What we were made for
by Becky DobieI’ve recently been challenged to read through the entire Bible,
I’m still near the start and I’ve never been much of a reader so when I say challenge, it really is. I’ve just completed Leviticus and feel as though if I can get through that, then I can read it all!
Anyone who’s read Leviticus before knows it’s a little bit strange. It’s full of strange sacrifices and rituals which seem very odd especially in today’s culture. I’ve really been battling with all the laws and practices (as a vegetarian, the idea of animal sacrifices makes my skin crawl). But, even though I don’t like it, I’ve chosen to listen to what God might be saying through it.
With that mindset, I’ve gained a little perspective.
All of these rituals were there to make people right with God and to make them pure because people do stumble. God’s presence is so powerful that if we are impure when we enter it, then it can end up being quite dangerous.
That’s why people had to confess and atone for their sins, so they could be close to God's presence.
That’s what God longs for, it’s the whole point of our existence; remember the garden of Eden? We were created for relationship with God, but our sin drove us out of the garden and away from Him.
Now, we don’t have to do all these rituals anymore, thankfully. That’s exactly the reason why Jesus lived, died and was risen - the ultimate sacrifice to make us able to be in God's presence.
If Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice and has made us able to enter God's presence, then surely it doesn’t matter if I sin because it’s sorted?
Not quite
…you're missing the point.
In Romans 6:15, Paul wrote “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!”. God calls us still to confess our sins so that he “will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:7-10 NIV
When we confess our sins to others, we will hopefully have some accountability, a bit of the burden will be lifted and we will be supported, it’s good. We also need to confess our sins to God, he will break the chains, forgive us and we can be in His presence, what we were made for.
Lord,
I bring to mind all the things that are weighing me down, my guilt and shame. I confess that I have done wrong and I turn away from them. Thank you for sending Jesus so that we can be in your presence, that He paid the price so that we don’t have to.
Amen
