By Shane Kastler
Under the Old Covenant, animal sacrifices were frequently offered by Israelites who were seeking forgiveness of sin. In all honesty, the animal sacrifices themselves did not atone for sin, but rather they pointed forward, in a very graphic way, to the true “Lamb of God” who would make the only real payment for sins. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of those who trust in Him.
While the animal sacrifices were required under the Old Covenant, there should have been heart involvement on the part of the sinner as well. In other words, it was not meant to merely be a transaction of commodities, whereby the sinner “paid” with an animal” and God “forgave” based on the payment. True forgiveness involves a sinner whose heart is genuinely grieved over the sin and has a desire to turn from it. But many who lived under the Old Covenant had merely turned it into an economic issue. Not caring about their sin, they paid what was required and didn't care. This was foolish on their part.
The Bible warns, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1) While we do not live under the Old Covenant, we can be guilty of offering “the sacrifice of fools.” For us it would involve having a flippant attitude regarding our sin; and an irreverent mindset toward the worship of God. We too can be guilty of approaching God with a heart of haughtiness, expecting Him to forgive us, based on the false notion that He owes us grace. In truth, God owes us nothing.
Grace, by definition, is unearned. In other words, nobody deserves grace. God, however, freely gives it. Those who turn from their sin in repentance and commit their lives to Christ by faith, experience the grace of God. It was God's grace that convicted them of their sin. It was God's grace that drew them to Christ. It was God's grace that granted them a repentant and faithful heart. And it will be God's grace that will lead them home to Heaven.
Examine yourself and make sure that you are not regularly offering to God the “sacrifice of fools.” Approach God with a sense of humble reverence, mixed with a major dose of joy for all the good things He's done for you. Rather than foolishness, devote yourself to faithfulness. And rather than trying to earn your way to Heaven, trust in Jesus, the only one who could truly pay the infinite price that you and I owe.
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