Better Than Sacrifice, Yielding Our Heart to GodSample

Why sacrifice?

God created a beautiful and perfect world, with no sin or defilement whatsoever. Sacrifice of any sort was unheard of, unthinkable, and unnecessary. Then Lucifer, a beautiful, high-ranking angel, became filled with envy and pride, and he turned against the God who had created him. He proclaimed himself equal with God and became Satan, the father of lies. Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan, disobeyed God and chose their own selfish way. Everything quickly spiraled downward, and all of creation started decaying.

Sin is often dismissed as trivial, but in light of the perfect holiness of God who created all things, every transgression is worse than the most virulent cancer and if left unchecked would ruin the entire universe. God was brokenhearted, but in His great love He put in motion the most beautiful path to restoration, leading toward the Lord Jesus Christ entering our world. He performed the first sacrifice, killing an animal and covering Adam and Eve’s nakedness (Genesis 3:21); a foreshadowing of the need for shed blood to bridge the gap between man and God.

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that, “the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Leviticus 17:11 explains why, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

When the Israelites were getting ready to escape from the Egyptians, and when the final plague was set in motion to kill the firstborn of every Egyptian, God’s people were to kill a lamb with no defects and place its blood over their doorposts. Exodus 12:7 and 13, “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” When the people were covered by the blood of the perfect Passover lamb, the Lord protected them from the destruction of the plague. They were saved from death by the lamb’s blood.

Reflection: Sacrifices were never meant to be necessary. The devastating consequences of sin cannot be ignored or simply erased. Yet, because of God’s love for His people, He has provided the way to restoration. Next time we’ll explore the real and final solution.