November 9, 2018
CHRIST’S SINGULARLY SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE
The Mosaic sacrificial system was a copy of the “greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven” (Heb. 9:11). It existed to prepare God’s people for the true Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In the Mosaic system, regular and recurring sacrifices had to be made. But Christ’s sacrifice was singularly sufficient. He does not need to repeat it. For it radiates out into time past and time future to cover the sins of those who believed both before and after His appearing. Christ died “once for all time.” Indeed, from God’s perspective, the Lamb of God was slain “before the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).
Christ’s sacrifice marked the “end of the age” for Temple sacrifices. For the sacrifice of animals was always like an IOU written on a future payment, which was paid-in-full when Christ declared from the cross, “It is finished!”
November 8, 2018
THE TEMPLE FORESHADOWED THAT WHICH CHRIST FULFILLED
The two rooms of the Tabernacle were symbolic of the spiritual separation existing between God and man. Only priests could enter the first room called the Holy Place. And only the High Priest could enter the second room called the Most Holy Place, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement (“Yom Kippur”). Yet, when Christ died on the cross, the curtain of separation was rent and the way to the Father was opened. Because of Jesus we may approach the throne of God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Jesus has opened the way for us, not by having us keep religious “regulations,” but by believing in Him and receiving Him in relationship as Lord and Savior.
The Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple, ending its religious sacrifices and practices, in 70 A.D. It was always only a foreshadowing of that which Christ is the fulfillment. Christ has opened a new and living way to a right relationship with God.
November 5, 2018
IF GOD SAYS IT, IT WILL HAPPEN
The people of Judah would not listen to the warnings that God spoke through His prophet, Ezekiel. Indeed, a kind of proverb or saying was being repeated during his day: “Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing” (Ez. 12:22). The people had become hardened in their hearts, closing their ears to God’s word. They heard the warnings, but either discounted them as false, or delayed their consideration by saying they wouldn’t happen during their lifetimes. They were wrong on both accounts. For God did judge Jerusalem exactly as He said He would and during the very lifetimes of those who wouldn’t listen.
I wonder whether we are guilty of the same thinking sometimes? I’m sure there are those who doubt Christ’s second coming and the final judgment even though they have heard the warnings. Yet, there are even more who don’t doubt that it will happen, but lazily live their lives as though Christ will not come during their lifetimes. The prophecies concerning Christ’s return are 2,000 years old and still we have heard no trumpet, nor seen the parting of the heavens. So, many are lulled into lethargy.
Didn’t Jesus himself instruct us to “watch” and “be ready” (Matt. 24:42, 44), because He would return at an hour we do not expect? So, we watch, not passively, but actively, being ready by being busy about what Christ has commanded us to do until He returns. We do this because we believe that if God says it, it will happen.
November 4, 2018
ARE YOU BECOMING SPIRITUALLY DULL AND INDIFFERENT?
There are some of us who after hearing and believing the gospel become sluggish and slothful in loving others and living for Christ. How can this be since we are assured of inheriting God’s promises? Perhaps it is because we misunderstand our faith, thinking we can hold it passively, when instead, it must be acted upon. Since we have the promises of God in Christ, let us walk by faith, not becoming “weary in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9).
Are you becoming spiritually dull and indifferent? Your love for God and love for others has waned? Faith and endurance are the antidote. Fan into flame your spirit by faith. Endure hardship in your love for others. You have the promises of God. Live like it!
November 3, 2018
WHO IS THIS MAN DRESSED IN LINEN?
Ezekiel was caught up in a vision, snatched by the hair of his head by the Spirit of God, to see Jerusalem from a heavenly perspective (Ez. 8:3). Much like the apostle John’s revelation, Ezekiel noted both the time and location when the “Sovereign Lord took hold” (Ez. 8:1) of him. In the vision, he heard the Lord call six men with deadly weapons to punish the city. It is of interest that the number six is the number of man, and on this occasion the number of the angels that God appointed to judge the sin of Judah.
Yet, with the six angels, there was a seventh man. This one dressed in linen and not armed with a weapon, but with a “writer’s case.” To this man dressed in linen, the Lord commanded that he put a “mark” on the foreheads of the penitent, so that they would not be harmed by the six angels of wrath. The Hebrew word for “mark” was represented by the Hebrew letter “Tav.” So, the man in linen was to put a “Tav” on the foreheads of those to be saved. It is of interest to note that the Hebrew “Tav” looked similar to a lower case “t” during Ezekiel’s day. Although Ezekiel would not have been aware, Christians see the sign of the cross in the “mark.”
Who is this man dressed in linen? Who can say? Only God knows. But certain details are worth noting. First, he was the seventh man and the number seven is the number of completion, the number of the Sabbath and the number of God. Second, he wore linen, a priestly garb representing purity. Third, he was sent to mark the penitent for salvation. And finally, he was fully obedient (Ez. 9:11). At the very least, this man dressed in linen represents God’s mercy. Some even see him as the preincarnate Christ. Whoever he is, he reminds us, as he did Ezekiel, that God is able to separate the sheep from the goats when the time for His judgment comes.
November 2, 2018
HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY
We are born with a kind of moral compass, an intuition for right and wrong, called a conscience. We have a desire for justice and accountability in this world. From our earliest memories, we have a desire for fairness. Yet, the world is not fair. And justice doesn’t reign. Unfortunately, our idea of justice tends to focus more on others, while we make endless excuses for ourselves. We hide our true character not only from others, but in a kind of self-delusion, we hide it from ourselves. But God sees it.
God sees us as we truly are. When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they did was to attempt to cover their nakedness and hide from God. But God came looking. They could not hide from God and neither can we. He sees everything. We may fool others and even ourselves, but we cannot fool God. We are all accountable to God. And one day, every member of humanity will give an account, for things seen and things hidden (Rom. 14:12). Nothing will escape God’s notice.
What can we do? We can plea the blood of Jesus, our Great High Priest. For in Him we receive mercy and grace, so we are able to “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God” (Heb. 4:16).
October 31, 2018
GOD MADE US FOR HIMSELF
God is both the cause and the object of all things. For all things were made by Him and for Him. This is the truth that moved Augustine of Hippo to write, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
It is our sin that has separated us from God, making our hearts restless. But God so loved us, that He sent Jesus to make a perfect sacrifice for our salvation. Redeeming those who believe in Him by His blood, so that we are now called children of God. So we hear Christ’s invitation anew, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
October 30, 2018
DON’T WASTE YOUR YOUTH
There is a worldly saying that has destroyed many which says, “Sow your wild oats before settling down.” But the Bible says the opposite. The prophet Jeremiah must have observed many a young person who wasted his life following after the flesh. He saw the Babylonians come and either kill or enslave the youth of Judah. So he encouraged young people to follow the Lord early.
Those who submit their lives to the Lord while they are still young avoid many a needless hurt. I have never heard an older person wish they had been more worldly when young, but I have heard many express regret at having waited so long to follow Christ. Don’t waste your youth on yourself. Choose to follow the Lord from an early age.
October 29, 2018
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE EYES
David wrote this psalm, beginning nearly every verse with the personal pronoun, “I.” The psalm shows his desire to have a predetermined and settled code of conduct in facing certain situations that might tempt him to sin. In verse 3, he declared a determination to practice a discipline of the eyes. When anything vile and vulgar crossed his path, he would refuse to look at it. The Hebrew word here translated “vile and vulgar” is “belial,” which can also be rendered “wicked, ungodly, evil, or worthless.” David couldn’t help it if something “belial” appeared before him, but he could refuse to set his eyes upon it for any length of time.
The temptation to look too long has plagued us from the beginning. Didn’t Eve gaze at the forbidden fruit too long, seeing that it was “pleasant to the eyes” (Gen. 3:6)? And so, she and Adam seeing it, decided to eat it, plunging all of humanity into darkness.
Holy Spirit help us to be determined as David was to discipline our eyes. We can’t help what the world and its media parades before us, but depending on Your divine power, we can decide in advance to avoid looking too long. We can refuse to set our eyes on belial.
October 28, 2018
MORE THAN FORGIVEN, MADE RIGHTEOUS
God’s unmerited favor has been expressed toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, so that we are more than forgiven, we are made right with God. When a debt is forgiven, it brings the account up to zero. But God has done more than forgive our sin debt. He has accounted the righteousness of Christ unto us, so that we are justified, made righteous before God. Our sin debt is paid in full, even more, the righteousness of Christ is now ours.
This grace not only makes us right with God, it gives us confidence, so that we know we will inherit eternal life. What amazing grace this is!