Atonement

I grew up on a small farm in Kentucky. I remember as teenager raising calves to feed out to sell for beef. I remember one particular time when my calf was sick and my Grandpa (Pappy) had to come to the rescue. He literally poured some raw eggs (3 or 4 I think) down the throat of the calf and a full bottle of Pepto-Bismol. The calf recovered and I remember being quite sad when he had to be sold. Even though I’ve helped raise cattle and even pigs, the thoughts of having to kill them and burn them on an alter for my sin is really disturbing to me.

The Israelite nation made multiple sacrifices of animals for their sin. I’m sure that this ceremony would have moved me deeply. This innocent animal died for my sins and mistakes. The Day of Atonement was a big day of forgiveness. Check this out….

7 ‘“On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves (fast) and do no work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, one-fifth; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings. (Numbers 29:7-11 NIV)

Fast forward to the time when Jesus came to earth as a baby born in the little town of Bethlehem. He was coming to earth on a mission – to make the ultimate sacrifice of atonement for sin. Since I’m so far removed from Jesus giving up His life on the cross for my sin, I often take it for granted. I can’t imagine standing at the foot of the cross and seeing an innocent man die on my behalf or anyone else’s behalf. That’s what He did. Atonement is a big deal – it is “reparation for a wrong or injury.”

The visual of what this Day of Atonement looked like just humbled me to think of the animals that died for the sins of the people. Even more profound is to visualize Jesus dying for my sin and the sins of the world. I am deeply humbled and oh so grateful that my sins are washed away because of His Atonement on my behalf. This is so hard to comprehend, but I trust the Word of God. I accept His forgiveness with open arms. I’m motivated to love and serve Him because I’ve been forgiven completely.

Pressing On!

Dwayne