A friend commented on my post yesterday and offered this summary of the book of Hebrews . . . “The whole book of Hebrews is kind of a taste test comparison (Coke/Pepsi?) by someone who has known, loved and been blessed by the OT law and prefiguring ritual. But now he has ‘tasted Christ’ and there is no comparison!” I like it. A taste test . . . comparing the new with the old . . . the substance with the foreshadowing types . . . the real thing with the prefiguring copies and patterns . . . the most excellent with the good and better. And as I continued reading in Hebrews this morning, the “director” of the taste test is not prepared to leave it to the “untrained dull palette” to draw the right conclusion . . . eventually you just have to declare which is superior . . eventually you just need get to the point . . .

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a High Priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a Minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.   (Hebrews 8:1-2 ESV)

I like it when it’s made easy for me. Sometimes you gotta dig and noodle on stuff before you get it . . . other times someone clearly helps you by drawing a big arrow that points to what is important to know. That’s Hebrews 8:1-2 . . . the NLT puts it this way, “Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There He ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.”

That’s the point . . . in heaven, in the presence of majestic God, is the “true tabernacle”, the real place where man and God come together. And the High Priest who serves in that holy of holy places is Jesus Christ the Son of God. And this High Priest is at the right hand of God — there being no higher place of authority than Majestic God’s right hand . . . and this High Priest is seated at the right of the Father because His work is finished — the work of opening the way to God . . . and what remains is for Him to serve as an intercessor. And, behold, this High Priest is my High Priest . . . and the High Priest of all who, by faith, have received the gift of salvation through His once-for-all sacrifice. That’s the point!!!

This morning it’s not so much about where I am but about where He is. It’s about His authority and His on-going ministry on my behalf. It’s about a heavenly perspective and about a heavenly tent not made by man but by God Himself. It’s about entering into that most holy of places through the Spirit of God. It’s about considering Jesus, the risen Christ . . . about focusing on what is unseen rather than what is seen . . . about setting my heart on things above. Its about living here with a renewed vision and appreciation for what He’s doing there. That’s the point!!!

There’s a place for complicated things . . . but not this morning . . . its been clearly shown to me again. In fact, its been shown twice. Here’s what I read in Luke 22 this morning . . .

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led [Jesus] away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”   (Luke 22:66-69 ESV)

Doesn’t get any clearer than that. My Lord is sitting at the right hand of the power of God . . . that’s the point. Get it? Got it? Good!!

And that’s the taste that refreshes. No need to keep sipping on the other stuff . . . no need to look other places . . . instead, as my friend encouraged me in his comment, let’s keep “our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2) . . .

O’ what a Savior! Amen?