I felt like I was home when we moved to Arkansas. Near our home are the stone tablets that bear the Ten Commandments. “Wow!” I thought. “This could not happen in many states in America.” However, I consider the Ten Commandments foundational to our faith. They are part of the Old Covenant. God wrote on stone tablets on Mt. Sinai and gave them to Moses to show the Israelites how to live God’s ways. However, He knew no one could completely keep the law so He required the sacrifice of animals for the forgiveness of sin. People had to go to the tabernacle or the temple and the priest sacrificed an animal first for his own sins and then the sins of the people. I’m sad that so many animals had to die for the sins of the people.
Jesus ushered in the second covenant. He, the Lamb of God, became the sacrifice, once for all, to take away our sin and grant forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin, death and Satan. An earthquake rocked the temple and the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place where the sacrifices were made was torn in two, top to bottom. This means that you and I have access to our God for the forgiveness of our sins and for help in times of trouble. He is our God and we are His people. We can worship and praise Him in the dark of night or the light of day. God is always available. We will never get a busy signal!
THINK ABOUT IT
The tomb could not hold Jesus. He rose from the grave and more than five hundred people witnessed His appearance following the resurrection and before Jesus ascended into Heaven. He promised He would prepare a place for us, and He would come back to take us (believers) to be where He is forever. Eternity is a long time. We have a choice. We can spend eternity with God by following Him or we can follow our own selfish ways and leave God out of our lives. When we leave Him out, we choose to be left out of heaven.
PRAY ABOUT IT
Holy Lord, I know you do not want anyone to perish outside your perfect plan. You sent Jesus to be our sacrifice, and whoever believes in Him will be saved from a horrible eternity. O Lord, open people’s eyes. Open their hearts to a new and awesome life with you. Thank you for your amazing love. Send your Spirit into this world to shine your light and pierce the darkness so people will know the truth, the truth that will set them free to love you in return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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