An Old Testament Perspective

A big goal that I have for this year is to read the Bible through.  I think I am doing fairly well.  :)  I have progressed nicely through the Old Testament and am almost to the end of Numbers.  The one thing that I have really noticed is that there were a lot of laws and rules about how to worship God and how to present offering and atone for our sins.  Quite honestly, I'm not sure I would have remembered all of the laws and the way to present offerings.  I'm sure my day would have went something like...

"Do I take 4 goats or 5 goats for this offering?  Shoot...  I only have a cup of flour instead of a quarter for this offering.  And did I just touch something that was considered unclean?  I don't remember if I'm suppose to leave camp for 3 days or 5 days until I'm considered clean again.  And do I take my offerings into the Tent of Meeting or leave them outside?  {sigh}"

I am so grateful that we no longer have to follow the laws that were presented to the early tribe of Israel.  I am certain that the laws and rituals would have gotten in the way of my relationship with God.  And, I am so grateful that Jesus came to fulfill the law.

Last night I found out that the father of a high school friend passed away.  There is no doubt that this man is now in heaven.  I was thinking about that this morning when it occurred to me that this man is now standing face to face with Jesus.  He is now in the presence of the One who fulfilled the law.  He is getting to walk and talk with the Man who became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that we no longer have to present multiple offerings and so that we don't have to pay the price for our sins.  He is with the Son who loves all of us so much that He agreed to go to the cross so that we could live in an intimate relationship with our Father.

To me this is amazing and beautiful.  I look forward to the day when I get to be face-to-face with Jesus...  the One who sacrificed His life so that I could live in a relationship with my Father and not be bound by rules, laws and rituals.