Not An Easy Process

Good Morning,

While reading through the books of Exodus and Leviticus, we will find many instructions that may wear out a reader: take off the head of this dove, put the blood here, put the other sacrifice on the altar, take the ashes out of the altar, and then change your clothes and take the ashes to a clean place. If the priest uses a ceramic pot to cook the meat, then the pot has to be broken, but if it is a brass pot, then it has to be scrubbed.

If you have read Leviticus, you have wondered, “What in the world does all this have to do with me?” We are not Old Testament Jews; we are not bringing blood offerings. Christ is our “Lamb slain” to take away the sins of the world.  

I will not say I have all of the “whys” figured out, but we can all agree that one lessons from these tiring details is that the work of redemption is no easy task. To make a sinful man acceptable before a holy God is not a simple process. To take a man who is condemned and dead in trespasses and sin, and cleanse him to be accepted by God is a complex and demanding process.  To keep that man in a daily relationship with His God is a continuous complexity.

For the priest to fulfill all of his requirements would make his heads spin (and it was nonstop): the fire of the altar was never to go out, the candles in the holy place were never to go out, and every day, fresh loaves of bread on the sacred table were to be replaced.

For those who brought a sacrifice, the process was likewise complex. To stay right with God required constant attention. Some sins needed to be cleansed, but the one who committed the sin was ignorant of the wrongdoing. When the sin was found out, action was needed to address the wrong.

The reality that the priests drifted from God, while people became casual and complacent is not difficult to grasp.

Reading through these lesson reminds us that though our sin was atoned completely on Calvary, our daily walk with God, requires constant attention. The “dos and don’ts” of our New Testament can become a toil rather than a willing offering. The Christian who humbly says, “Not my will, but thine be done,” could easily replace those words with, “What’s the difference?” and “Why is it such a big deal that we do this or don’t do that?”

For sinful men to stay in a daily walk with a holy God is still no flippant task. He is God, Almighty God, and while He invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace, He frequently reminds us in the New Testament about living a holy and separated life.

May we not become weary with the sanctified or consecrated life.  Notice the way people keep every bit of chrome on their motorcycle sparkling. Consider the time, expense, and care many ladies put into their fingernails.  I have a neighbor that brings in a special team to detail his giant motorhome every two or three months. Not just washing it, but waxing the entire thing. When we love our stuff, we take good care of it, to the smallest detail.

Can God be expected to have no concern over those Whom He loves?

The fact is, you are important to God, and some things matter very much to Him that He would like you to take seriously. There are things that bother God, and he does not want His children to be around those things. The apostle Paul said, “let us not grow weary in well doing.” May we take this to heart.

Pastor