ONCE AND FOR ALL, DONE!

"Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offered himself." Hebrews 7:27

Every now and then I'll notice an extra charge on my visa card and think, "I didn't buy anything, what's that for?" It's a renewal fee for my blog or something. High priests had to offer sacrifices for themselves and for the people. Because they themselves were sinners just like everyone else. Kind of like that renewal fee, they had to offer sacrifices day after day. The debt was never paid in full. 

Jesus, who being holy,blameless, pure, set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens, does not need to do that. He sacrificed himself, once and for all. Paid. That means, our sins are dealt with, once and for all. His death was for all our sins. That means our past, present and future. All our sins were in the future to Christ when he died upon the cross. From our perspective we our sins are in the past, present or future. Not to God. The sacrifice has been paid. Once for all. Done.

Father, thank you that you are my high priest. Thank you that you dealt with my sin, once for all. Done. Praise be to you in us today!

IN THE END, GOD WINS, WE WIN: Psalm 37:1-2

"Do not fret because of evil men
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
  for like the grass they will soon wither, 
    like green plants they will soon die away." Psalm 37:1-2

As a middle school teacher I see this everyday, all day. The alpha punks rule the yard. They try to intimidate the smaller, less physical students. That all changes after high school. I tell the kids who are "geeks" to just hang in there, because later in life, geeks rule the world. Spiritually speaking, that is what David is telling us. 

The Bible tells us that even though sometimes in this life it looks like evil men get everything they want and enjoy a lot of success, it is all just temporary.  In the telling story of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) Jesus emphasizes that some may have it all on earth, but in eternity they will just have torment, while others will spend eternity in complete fulfillment. 

So, while we might feel a bit shortchanged in this life, in eternity, we will have all we need and more. All our tears will be wiped away and we will enjoy complete fulfillment for eternity. Remember, God has eternity in store for us. 

Father, help us to rest in you and rely on you, even when life is unfair. Praise be to you in us, today!