Because of His Sacrifice

Back in the days of David, it was a common practice to bring the best animal from your herd to be sacrificed for the sins that you had committed. This did two things. First, the penalty for sin--death--was exercised on the animal. The second thing is that this innocent creature was paying the cost of somebody else's sin, thus representing what was to come with Jesus coming down to Earth and sacrificing Himself for all of humanity.

While the act of sacrificing was a constant reminder of what happens when you go against God's Word, did God really need the animals given to Him in this manner? After all, He created the entire world and every living creature that dwells within it. Every animal from the forest, every bird in the sky, and every marine creature in the sea bears the ownership mark from God. Each one of them is special to Him. Each one has a name that is known by the Creator. The act of sacrificing was a way to show the commitment of God's followers and in turn, they would receive His rescue and nourishment when they called upon His name.

In contrast, those that have listened to the Word of the Lord and have chosen to ignore or twist its meaning will catch the wrath of God. Those that make a choice to disregard God's Word and live life on their own won't survive long under their own strength. Their alliances will eventually betray them. They will become weak among their peers and be tossed aside when they've served their purpose. There is no hope in choosing to go against God's Word. There is no resurrection for those that defy God's will for their lives.

When Christ returns in His full glory, sin won't have a chance to live in His presence. The glory and majesty that surrounds Christ is the ultimate sin repellent. Only those that have lived their lives for Christ and surrounded themselves in His love and mercy will be able to stand tall in the presence of our Savior. The final judgement will put an end to the sinful ways of this world. Reborn in Christ's perfection, the temptation to ignore God will be lost forever. Christ's presence will no longer be hidden. Instead, we will walk hand-in-hand and see eye-to-eye with the one that rescued us from our path to destruction. Blessed be the One that will one day come to bring salvation to all who remain faithful to His Word.

- Thoughts from Psalm 50

encounter: What reminds you today of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on your behalf? What helps you remember the tremendous price paid for your salvation?