Friday, January 15, 2010

God's gifts

The other night I lay in bedding thinking and I began to wonder....how were people saved before Christ? The bible tells us He is the only way to Heaven.In John 3:16 we learn, " For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" If we believe, where will this eternal life take place? Heaven. Reading on in John 14:6 Jesus tells us, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So how do we go to heaven, believe in Christ and that He died for our sins on the cross.

What did people do before his death? Thankfully a wonderful women from church has given me a Beth Moore bible study (Thanks, Melissa!) and today God answered my question fully and completely: Burnt Offerings. I have never really understood the purpose of burnt offerings until today. God asked the Israelites to bring a male animal without defect, in other words a perfect male, to sacrifice fully for their sins. He didn't ask for the runt or the sickly but the perfect animal. Who does that remind you of? It reminds me of the precious Lamb of God, His son. Before Christ people made atonement for their sins through sacrificial offerings, until the day God sent His perfect and sinless son, who He would use as a sacrifice for our sins.
Before Christ you had to have faith in your offerings and atonement for sin, believing that following God's request for payment of sin would allow you to be saved. The day Christ gave His life, (thus sacrificing himself as the perfect male lamb), we can be saved by believing in Him. The following is an excerpt from "A Women's Heart, God's Dwelling Place", written by Beth Moore in 2007:

"Ancient Hebrew history records that the moment the last ash fell, the priest blew the trumpets in celebration, shouting, It is Finished!" Meaning the sacrifice for the sin. The passage goes on to say, "When He had received the drink, Jesus said, It is Finished. With that, He bowed his head and gave up His spirit" (John 19:30).

I am still baffled at how He could give up his perfect son for me. Not just for me but for everyone in this world. Not just Americans, or people living in Israel. Everyone, the millions of people walking this earth. Not only that He can tell you how many strands of hair are on my head, He stores each of my tear drops in bottle in heaven. WOW! I encourage each of you to get a bible study and get started learning, God will fill your cup with knowledge and continue to teach you throughout your days on earth. Until next time, may God bless your life.....Susan