DEVOTIONAL
Dear friends and all who might read this small article, you must consider life after death. The word of God explicitly tells us that beyond this life we will stand before an infinite holy God, Who is just in all of His ways. I personally, by the power of the Holy Spirit, believe every word that is presented to me within the Bible, but for you who do not, you must still harken to the fact of its possibility, which is a true reality. For all creation declares the glory of this King, Jesus Christ, whom I serve, who will one day judge each person according to His perfect righteousness. It is at this one point we must briefly stop to consider.
It is the vile repulsive thoughts that lurk within the confines of our mind that declare us unrighteous before the God of heaven. My friend, you must understand it is the very constitution of your being that is contaminated with sin that brings forth not only unrighteous thoughts, but also ungodly behavior. This is the one thing you cannot deny. There are things that are hidden within your heart that you are ashamed of. Why is that? What is it that makes you desire things that are shameful? The truth is, when Adam sinned, violating the word of God, all humanity fell with him into condemnation. And God demands justice which is only found in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
During the days of Samuel the priesthood was corrupt. Therefore, the Lord allowed the Philistines to defeat the nation. After the Philistines victory they took the Ark of the Covenant, which was a dwelling place of God, as a trophy. But the glory of God broke out upon the five cities of the Philistines and they sent the Ark back to Beth-shemesh. The men of Beth-shemesh, having full knowledge that only the priest could handle the Ark, out of curiosity looked inside of it. At that point the anger of the Lord broke out upon them and many died.
Now the Ark of the Covenant was a chest made out of acacia wood. It was overlaid with gold made by the Israelites according to the exact specifications of God himself. The ark was the dwelling place of His glory that contained the stone tablets of the law. On the lid of this Ark set the mercy seat. This was where the sacrificial blood was sprinkled by the priest to make atonement for the nation. It was the righteousness of God that had to be vindicated between God and His broken law. So a substitutionary sacrifice was made and the blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. When The Lord looked down upon His broken law He saw the blood of the sacrifice, for without blood there is no forgiveness of sins. This was the only way God could dwell among His people during this time. Now the mercy seat on the Ark was just a symbolic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, the blood of Christ shed on the cross for the remission of sins.
The question we must ask is, “How can a man stand before God and be justified?” He can’t in and of himself, for all humanity has broken God’s perfect law. The things that you are ashamed of is sin working in the members of your body, bearing fruit to death. God is holy and He will be vindicated. That is upon your death you will stand before Him and be judged according to His righteousness. Today I plead with you. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no hope for you. He is the only one who fulfilled the perfect law, who became the perfect sacrifice so that in Him you might be saved. He alone is your mercy seat; if you do not run to Him in faith you will be judged by God’s perfect law and be condemned to eternal destruction. May God give you the strength to do so today.