| The Priest in Our Place by James Hescock |
| Ah! Not AGAIN! The red digits assaulted me as soon as I laid eyes on them. Overslept again! Like a runner off the blocks I was in motion. Bolting about the house I sprinted to get dressed and out the door at a speed that would rival Superman in the toughest of phone booths. Soon I was off to work-and I thought I was going to make it on time. On the drive in to town, “they” began to sink in … those guilty thoughts of all the things I didn't do since I overslept. Some I could shake off, but this one was always the worst: You didn't have morning devotions. Eek. God certainly wasn't happy about that so I tried to make-up for it by spending my drive in prayer. Yet, my impatient banter at slower traffic and my speeding didn't mix well with hopes at getting back into God's favor before the time I got to work. On days like these I find that I can turn into a priest; a Levite to be exact. Feeling guilty about my sins or shortcomings, I find myself trying to make up for them with spiritual sacrifices (good attitudes, prayer, being nice to others, etc.). But no matter how many good things I do, I find that I'm never ever able to get the sense that I've done enough and am back in God's favor. I can't ever seem to fully shake that sense of guilt. This would make sense, wouldn't it? For Hebrews says, “According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper.” (Hebrews 9:9) This was the same for me. For all my spiritual offerings of good works, they were only good for the outside of me and still left that guilt and sin in my heart unresolved -- just like it did for the Levites. Yet, for those who trust in Jesus, our great hope is this: Christ is priest in our place! In other words, because of our inability to offer sacrifices sufficient to turn away the wrath of God against us, Jesus Christ made himself a perfect sacrifice on our behalf. As our priest, he stands before God in his merit and in our place and atones for all of our shortcomings! Our imperfection he trades for his perfection, our disobedience for his life of perfect obedience. All my guilt is paid for. | This work is so final that now, when God looks at his people, he doesn't see failures and shortcomings but instead the perfect spotless righteousness of his Son! Do you see God as seeing you that way? Moreover, scripture says that he never ceases to pray to God for us! “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25) As the great hymn says, Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high Priest whose Name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me. This is how we battle guilt, shame, and every other condemnation that assail us. Whenever we're tempted to fall into that Levitical loop, we're to look to Christ's work, rather than our work, and fight for faith like the hymn writer does: When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. So from one Levite to another: hope in God today! When our sin declares our guilt and disgrace, remember Christ stands in our priestly place. And let us together, in the face of all our sin and shortcomings, take up the refrain, Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free. For God the just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me. |