A VISIBLE PARABLE

Do you remember reading what the first plan of worship was that God gave the Israelite people?  It was a parable of sorts.  They were given instructions to build a portable temple, so when they followed Moses through the wilderness they would set up the tent and all could come to worship.   Hebrews  9:6-10 tells us, "the Holy Spirit shows us a visible parable:  as long as the large tent stands, people can't just walk in on God!"

 God was a private God.  He had strict rules about how often a priest could enter the Holy of Holies, which was the most internal place within the tent, and only the High Priest could enter the place where God resided but once in a life-time. There the priest would offer a blood sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people.

That was then.  This is now.

Today we still have a visible parable in the Cross.  Its three parts stand for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the three-in-one.  But, I have a thought that the cross itself is a true Holy Place, as it is the place where Jesus died.

If you have studied about Jesus and the faith He offers, you probably are aware that Jesus offered Himself as the unblemished, perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people, not unlike the perfect animals  the priests offered so long ago in the wilderness in the portable temple. God the Father sent Jesus for that very purpose, that He was to die to pay for the sinfulness of the world.

The Father isn't unlike our own parent who may have stood up for us when we got caught with our hand in the cookie jar.  Someone who loved us may have forgiven the mischief we created, and stood in our place when we were caught.

Today is my 80th birthday. And I have had 80 years of defending myself when I have needed it, but early on, when I was but a child, my parents often stood by my side when I misbehaved.  And I knew punishment, too.  It was hard, but no punishment was ever as hard as that which  Jesus accepted.

He died for my sins....and yours.  He didn't apologize for me.  He just went the full mile and died.  It was the punishment I deserved!  Not what He deserved!

 But He did it all and freed me..... and you.. from all those dead end efforts to make ourselves respectable so that we can live all out for God.

When I see the Cross--any cross--I see the Christ and His death for me.  The sins I cannot erase and those I hope to change are obliterated by His blood.  I cannot rid myself of sin by myself.  Only my Lord can do it. And He has already done it!

Remember Him and the Cross He bore for me and you!

Jo...