Yes, it is true that the demand of righteousness from God would be satisfied by a sacrifice of some other innocent martyr of justice, instead of the guilty party. But the repetition of sacrificing animals has not become the once-for-all sufficiency needed to pay the immeasurable penalty due the sinfulness of men. There must be a necessary better sacrifice. And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Any time I share with anyone about some of the things that have happened to me in my life, I find myself awestruck at how wonderful it is to truly know God. The drastic constrast between what I deserve every moment of my life and what I am actually receiving is utterly indescribable. Like when I was chatting with a teenager about what I have been doing these last few years -- I seem to be often beside myself as if watching it all unfold in real time, absorbing all of the goodness of God as I describe it as a story. Praise God that she was also encouraged by the tale that He has so graciously woven into my life.
STAGE TWO -- "Better things have come: The Reality."
1 Peter 1:17-21
My imperfections, all of my sin, are splattered bright and wide across the sides of the altar of sacrifice. But it is another's blood that covers my sin and pays for it all, that I might go free. Formerly, it was the blood of bulls or sheep or goats. Presently, it has become a much more precious and enduring sacrifice: the Lamb of God. To meditate on the idea of such an act endows a humility upon me that drops me to my face in prostrate adoration of such a holy plan of an all-sufficient God.
The shadow of times past has become the noonday of a brighter existence. The precondition of true freedom, namely, animal sacrifices, has been superceded by the fully-atoning sacrifice of Jesus on His killing stone, the altar of the cross.
Although my own imperfect humanity tempts me to writhe in all of my filth, willingly time and time again, I have yet been ransomed once for all! Wretched man that I am, yet He has foreknown, as the all-wise and all-knowing King of the Ages, that Jesus would set me free. Not only because freedom is what I desperately desire, but so that I may know that He alone is the One that has accomplished it for me. Never did He "help me" to do this or to do that so that I may become a "better" person or free myself. Never could I be able to do such an impossibility! Never could I ever be able to breathe on my own, much less walk, or do anything of any sort of good. But He can. He did. And He does still. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. No matter how many times I show how imperfect and sinful I truly am, He rises up within me with the all-atoning sacrifice that forgives even the gravest of sins. That sacrifice, Jesus willingly took upon Himself, knowing in advance that I would freely enjoy Him in it for eternity.
Blood well spilt.
Sep 29, 2007
Blood on the Altar, or Splatterings of Imperfection -- Stage Two.
Sep 26, 2007
Blood on the Altar, or Splatterings of Imperfection -- Stage One.
He is a God of justice. Altogether righteous and holy, alone He stands. None can endure His presence, severed by the breach of justice that has been so treacherously passed down from generation to generation since the Sin of Adam. Enter the need for Law. Resulting from such a rampant disregard for all things right and good, an instatement of divine authoritative suppression had to be enforced as a basic requirement of men. Finding themselves in desperate need for rescuing, drowning in sin, men have passively longed for peace. So God has made a way for it, and God has given it. Laws for Peace Offerings Back then, the animals had to pay, lest the entire human race be smitten from the earth entirely. Through that, God extended a little mercy toward men, the firstfruits of His creation. But today, animal rights activists would have you thrown in jail for such an inhumane act. More than just slaughtering animals, though, the early practice of sacrificing for the sake of peace must have had a more meaningful purpose. I think there is something to be said about the idea of shedding innocent blood for the guilty -- and that being the bridge of peace, justifying men before God regarding His righteous requirements. But I it's more than just a "take one for the team" approach...
STAGE ONE -- "The Shadow."
"If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar."
Leviticus 3:6-8
Most intriguing to me is the rite of throwing the blood against the sides of the altar. What is the significance of that? At first glance, it may seem like shenanigans on the part of the priests in order to brighten up otherwise monotonous ceremonies. But what does such an act truly signify? I'm not quite sure, although many scholars may have their theories.
Here's what I think... I can still remember around this time of year, at the conclusion of Ramadan two years ago, when I was invited out into the hill country of Morocco to participate in the Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al Adha). I remember seeing a lot of blood. It poured from the neck of a squirming sheep, vainly struggling to keep its life. The blood first became a stream and next a pool, then at once it was swept away, gone from that once vibrant life forever. So it was with the sacrifices outlined in the book of Leviticus. But the blood was kept for a reason: a life had been taken, but not without purpose. A remembrance of what once was, but had to be taken, needed to be displayed. A life once existed, but now had been snuffed out by the injustice of another -- and the payment was in blood. So it was kept and splattered across the killing stone, the altar. Smeared in crimson red was the stain of sin, atoned for by the innocent life of an animal. But not without the reckoning of justice in God's hand. God was satisfied, and man was justified -- at least, until the next life would be taken and blood once again thrown against the altar.
So what is the cost for me? How much do I have to pay in order to at least get a glimpse into the righteousness of God? Something has got to give, because God requires justice from me. I mean, that horribly judgmental attitude I had toward that beggar the other day must call for recompense. The constant grumbling and complaining about the details of life require an answer. The outright, blatant disregard for the commands of God and the deliberate sin altogether require a severe penalty on my part. What blood must be thrown? It ought to be my own. But it isn't. By the matchless mercy of God, a substitute has taken my place. But blood has been thrown against the altar nonetheless. The animal rights activists won't let me slaughter an animal, so from whom does the bloodguilt come?
The stain of my sin glares deeply and darkly upon the walls of the altar. Revealed by the confession of my broken and contrite heart, it has been splashed upon those stone blocks time and time again at the beckoning call of God Himself. The list is long. My sin is great. But the burden has been lifted and I have been justified by another's blood.
Sep 15, 2007
We Wrestle
Jacob Wrestles with God
"And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel [meaning, 'he strives with God'], for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [meaning, 'the face of God'], saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. "
Genesis 32:24-31
Jacob wrestled with God, grappling with Him, striving to keep his life. And somehow he prevailed, but not without a remembrance of it. For the rest of his life, Jacob, now named Israel from this encounter, was left crippled. But he was not utterly destroyed. Why not? One might think that to wrestle with God would ultimately mean suicide. Instead, Jacob was rewarded with the honor of being named by God himself a greater name than he once possessed. It is a name that would be remembered throughout the generations and even until today.
There is a difference between wrestling with God and wrestling against God. Jacob was wounded, but not destroyed. Later on in the book of Exodus, Pharoah and the Egyptians were humiliated, wounded, and finally blotted out from the earth. Jacob's heart was one that was soft and intended to be obedient to the voice and leadership of God. Pharoah's heart was continually hard and insisted on rebelling against the authority of God. One man's legacy reaches deep into the faithfulness of God and leaves an inheritance that lasts for all time. The other man's legacy reaches deep into the faithlessness of man and leaves only an example not to follow.
As I continuously evaluate my life in view of the Word of God, I hope and pray for three things in regards to the story of Jacob's wrestling. First, I can only hope for God to intervene in my life so that I may be found in a place that I am somehow striving to be more like Him and not merely standing around breathing to death. Second, when certainly does God come with His intervention, although I may wrestle with Him as Jacob did, I would receive a better name and a lasting legacy that credits Jesus for anything good flowing from me. And lastly, but perhaps the most important, I hope that I will not ever wrestle against God as He intervenes through the Holy Spirit, thereby imitating the suicide of Pharoah.
As of this moment, I wrestle. I am back from Africa and beloved Morocco, away from many people that I had grown to love in my two years there. I know that I long to be back in Africa, yet I am here in the US for a season. Much of me wants to wrestle against God and His intervening leadership in my life. I want to rebel against the Holy Spirit and disobey His perfectly wise plan for me right now. But I must not wrestle against Him. He will, however, allow me to wrestle with Him and still grant me the grace to persevere. And so I ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17) that I may remain content (Philippians 4:11) in whatever situation I find myself. It is there that I will encounter the Living God and receive a legacy that lasts throughout the ages.
Sep 12, 2007
Engagement, Wedding Plans, and a Few Photos
So, yes, it has been official for a few weeks now -- Kattie and I are engaged and planning to be married on November 9, 2007. The proposal took place in typical casual Adam fashion on Monday, August 20th. Below are a few engagement photos taken at the Pittock Mansion in Portland. It is a great spot overlooking the city, surrounded by amazing forestry that provides a great hiking experience or quiet place to get away. We just took a few photos (these really aren't the best ones).
As mentioned above, the wedding is scheduled for November 9th, in downtown Portland. Kattie and I could not be more excited! And we're not stressing so much about the planning, since we're getting a lot of help from our families. Plus, we're far more concerned with what will take place in the decades following the ceremony. I think one of the most amazing things about November 9th will be the people, as always seems to be the case. To me, it seems, no event is ever memorable if it weren't for the people involved. For this occasion, we will certainly have important friends and family in attendance from here in the US, from France, from Canada, and from Morocco. It will surely be a joyous occasion. And still there will be some beloved people that will be unable to attend. Nevertheless, our hope is that it would be an occasion that would be a great delight to our Lord Jesus.
Please pray for us as we begin this journey together.
