The Real Deal

Nº 168 weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - October 19, 2021

Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ's wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation. - Matthew Henry

My wife purchased a small children’s chair from an antique store and began stripping off the old paint. Fluid, a scraper, sandpaper, and elbow grease allowed her to remove several colorful layers; lo and behold, a beautiful wood-grained surface appeared. Well-intentioned previous owners had covered the wood with coat after coat of paint. With each coat, they attempted to improve the look of the chair, covering up the last layer’s chips, scratches, and unwanted marks. For thousands of years, the Israelites covered their sin with sacrificial offerings. Each time, they attempted to hide their accumulating mistakes and misdirected actions. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.” (Hebrews 10:4) The writer goes on to say, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) Covering our sin with repeated sacrifices ended when Jesus came and died, stripping away our guilt with His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. We cannot cover our sin with enough layers of service, contributions, good deeds or sacrifice. Jesus’ death is the ultimate sacrifice that did not cover over our sin but stripped it away – once and for all. [Dan Bolin President Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc