Atonement



Lev 16:29  "This is standard practice for you, a perpetual ordinance. On the 

	tenth day of the seventh month, both the citizen and the foreigner living 

	with you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, 

Lev 16:30  because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. 

	In the presence of GOD you will be made clean of all your sins. 


	Once a year, that's a long time to carry something, to have a hindrance in 

a relationship and not be able to communicate freely. Really it takes much less 

time than that for there to be a loss of relationship altogether and for one to 

forget the value of that bond that was once known. As they separated themselves 

from all other activity, though, focusing on the serious nature of that day, 

there must have been a renewal of what was meant to always be, the nearness to 

their Creator and a freedom from the accumulation of all their sins from the 

past year along with the dividing guilt that they inflicted. The dawning of the 

day following this day of atonement must have been so wonderful, this fresh new 

start and release from the failures of the past year. There had been a renewal 

of relationship as the presence of their God made them to be clean once more, 

and now they could approach the coming days with new motivation to live holy and 

righteous before their God. 


	But, wow, another whole year before anything they did wrong would be 

removed? That's a long, long time for there to be a loss of any concern about 

maintaining that relationship. It would seem that the lifestyle of carrying the 

sin would become much more familiar than that of complete holiness. After the 

first transgression it must have been much easier to continue in that practice, 

knowing it would all be covered anyway at the end of the year. The problem was, 

though, that with the bearing of the sin was also a loss of relationship and, 

eventually a loss of reason to even give any real solemnity to the day of 

atonement when it finally rolled around. If only this day could be every month? 

But, then, a month is also plenty of time to lose value in a relationship. Maybe 

if it were just every week. Then there surely would be the ability to live right 

and maintain the reality and value of the relationship with God. But, you know, 

a week is really too long also, as familiarity with sin can still take dominance 

over a holy relationship. If it were only every day, then maybe? Well possibly, 

but food has to be eaten sometime and employment has to be maintained. You know, 

it must have been great to have that day and get all the sins of the past year 

atoned for, but what was really needed in maintaining relationship with their 

God would never be fully satisfied. This atonement would have to be a continual 

process, where even many times within each day there might be a covering of each 

sin with blood of a lamb and renewal and maintenance of relationship with God. 


	I'm so glad we don't have to wait a whole year, that we don't have to 

carry junk around until Easter when it can all be unloaded at once. How 

wonderful it is for anyone when that does take place, but I desire not just the 

freedom from the weight of sin, but my purpose and passion is for the 

relationship that is mine in the experience of holiness and purity. Christ has 

forever become our sacrifice Lamb, bearing for us every sin we will ever commit 

and not requiring a year to pass before its removal. The familiarity with Him 

and His nearness can become so much greater than the other life of transgression 

and separation. Ensconced in the beauty of holiness, in continual relationship 

with God, the reality of abundant life can be known, as the true purpose in 

living becomes the foremost focus. Though there might be an enticement to give 

in to the pleasure of the flesh, the pleasure of His presence, so fresh and 

real, will prohibit and reject it. For this to take place, though, there cannot 

be a year that goes by before renewal of relationship. There cannot be a month, 

a week, a day, and not even a moment that is allowed to pass without accessing 

the atonement available in the blood of our Lamb. We don't have to bear it at 

all. We don't have to be separated at all. He can be right in the middle of 

every moment, forever cleansing us, sustaining us, healing us, and providing for 

everything we might need in His very presence. 




6/15/04