This week we are approaching Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). In biblical times, this was the one day of the year that the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a sacrifice to entreat the LORD for atonement of not only his sins but the sins of the entire nation of Israel. But thanks be to God, we no longer need the blood of animals to act as a temporary covering for our iniquities once every year.
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12)
This day is still observed in Israel as a solemn day of fasting and prayer and assessing one’s relationship with the Lord God. It is a good time for everyone to take an inventory of our hearts and minds and spiritual condition as we prepare to stand before the LORD of all the earth.
Yeshua spoke these words in Matthew 12:35-37,
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Is there some area in your life that still needs to be completely surrendered to the Lord? Do you have unconfessed, secret sins that need to be covered by the atoning blood of the Perfect Lamb of God? Are you yet struggling with doubt or impure thoughts or a wrong attitude that need to be taken captive and made obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5)?
Why carry these heavy burdens in your heart one more day? Now is the time to lay these things bare before the Lord of the Earth. He is not standing in judgment ready to condemn, but He is patient, loving and compassionate toward us when we bring our petitions before Him. He is filled with mercy and grace, willing to forgive even the greatest grievances when we release our pride and humble ourselves in obedience to His will. He has already paid the full price for your redemption; there is nothing more required but for you to accept His free gift. And He earnestly desires to make us justified in the sight of God the Father. A pastor once said that to be justified is to be made “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. You can be completely clean, pure and righteous as you receive His forgiveness today.
If you are not sure where to start, you can pray this prayer from Psalm 139:23-24,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
May you all be blessed, consecrated, sanctified and justified before the Lord our Judge this day!