Coffee With The Lord

“A person may think their ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart!  To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice!” (From Proverbs 21:2-3)

Not many things are “ONCE-FOR-ALL”!!  Most things require maintenance, oversight, care, and repairs.  I think of my lawn (it needs mowing every week in Spring and Summer), our cars (time for an oil change is around the corner), students (face those never-ending assignments), this body of mine (after a good meal, I feel like I could fast for a week…but a few hours later my stomach is growling and if I don’t exercise… well the results aren’t positive)… the list could go on.  All that to say, not many things are “once-for-all”

When something is “once-for-all” it is decisive, conclusive, final, convincing, definitive, finished, done, completed … or as my father used to say, “that settles it, period”!

  Read about a “ONCE FOR ALL” in the Bible this morning that ought to cause us to rejoice!!  The book of Hebrews tells us…

“For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priests here on earth who enter the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.  And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28 NLT)

This morning in my Bible reading I was reminded of why I am so grateful for what Jesus accomplished for me (and you) when He died for our sin on the cross!

Under the old system, described in the Old Testament, a human high priest, burdened with the same sin that we all bear, was required to offer sacrifices for sin. A single sacrifice for sin was not adequate – many sacrifices were required and had to offered repeatedly. The only authorized place for sacrifice was the designated, devoted sacred place – the tabernacle or temple. And the sacrifice had to be provided at the sinners own expense… I could go on…

Now listen to (read) these words from Hebrews and be grateful!!

“Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come! He has entered the greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. He did it with His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL TIME AND SECURED OUR REDEMPTION FOREVER!

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the Living God. FOR BY THE POWER OF THE ETERNAL SPIRIT, CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF TO GOD AS A PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS… for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.“

(From Hebrews 9:11–22 New Living Translation)

Brings to mind the words of this great old hymn…

“Christ has for sin atonement made,
What a wonderful Savior!
We are redeemed! the price is paid!
What a wonderful Savior!

“I praise Him for the cleansing blood,
What a wonderful Savior!
That reconciled my soul to God;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“He cleansed my heart from all its sin,
What a wonderful Savior!
And now He reigns and rules therein;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“He gives me overcoming pow’r,
What a wonderful Savior!
And triumph in each trying hour;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

“To Him I’ve given all my heart,
What a wonderful Savior!
The world shall never share a part;
What a wonderful Savior! (Refrain)

Refrain:
“What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord!”

– E. A. Hoffman, 1891