SUNDAY January 4, 2026

A Shadow of Heavenly Things

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:3-5

Imagine being a priest in Old Testament times. They never rested; they were always standing and did not sit down. As Levites, they were required to serve in the Temple from 30 to 50 years old. Every day the priests continually made offerings for the people’s sins. It could have become very wearisome to make these daily sacrifices. Yet these instructions given to Moses by God while on Mount Sinai were only a shadow of the heavenly things to come.

God’s people would have to bring a turtledove, a pigeon, a lamb or a goat to offer as a sacrifice. A blood sacrifice was needed as a covering for sin. On the day of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, the high priest would have to sacrifice a goat for the nation of Israel. No matter how many sacrifices were made, or how much blood was shed, sin remained; it was never completely taken away.

Jesus came and became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He shed His blood on the Cross and took upon Himself our sin. Isaiah 53:5 tells us: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We were spiritually dead, but through Christ, we were made alive, as written in Ephesians 2:1, 4-5:

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.... But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)....

Ask yourself, “Am I alive spiritually, or am I spiritually dead?”

To be spiritually dead is to be diabolically alive.
~R. C. Sproul~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!