After instructing the people of Israel on the building of the Sanctuary, God went on to explain all the sacrifices and offerings that were to take place in the daily service of the temple. There were to be sin offerings, fellowship offerings, guilt offerings, thank offerings, and the list goes on. Leviticus explains in detail how each animal or grain offering was to be made and for what reasons. At first all I could think was how grateful I am that the sacrificial system was done away with Jesus at the cross. I mean, I would hate to have to kill an innocent animal for the wrongs I commit every time. However, as I read all the details on how God required each offering and sacrifice to be made, I started to see something else. Something about God. Something beautiful about God. You see, none of those requirements were meant to be just a burden on us. What God was trying to teach us through the people of Israel back then, is that sin is an awful thing, but God made a way to deliver us from sin and its eternal consequences. Those words in the Bible are also there to teach us how important it is to ask God for forgiveness of our sins, which are really a broken relationship with Him. Confessing our sins restores that relationship.
After realizing the beauty of God’s forgiveness for our sins, I looked out my window at the mountains in the distance. I wanted God to know how sorry I was when my relationship with Him gets placed second to everything else in my life. I want to always be in close relationship with Him. He wants it and I need it. I also wanted to bask in the assurance that God is there to help me in this journey. He makes me realize how far I go sometimes from Him and how He draws me back with His love and forgiveness. As I looked through the window to the distant mountains, a verse from Psalm came to my mind. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1,2.
If you have gone far from God, if He’s become secondary in your life, or if you’ve realized He hasn’t been a part of your life in a while, don’t ever think you can’t go back to Him. He loves you and wants you. He’s made a way for you and for me: Jesus. Jesus is the way. Through Him we can be sure of being forgiven of any wrong we’ve done, no matter how bad we think it was. All you have to say is “God, I messed up. Please forgive me.” I encourage you to close this page you’re reading and talk with Him right now. Close your eyes and experience the freedom of knowing you are infinitely loved and have been forgiven.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I John 1:9
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
Psalm 51:1,2
