One of the things with travel is the constant battle to bring the correct amount of clean clothes to last through the trip and ensure the right outfits are brought in order to dress for the occasion. One mistake and an outfit is ruined. One miscalculation and you’re buying new socks or underwear that you don’t really want to buy. And then upon returning home, a bag full of smelly clothes (apart from the gym wear that didn’t get used, even with the best intentions).
Such is life. We start the journey clean and we quickly become dirty and smelly; a continuous cycle.
In Leviticus 21-23 God instructs Moses on several matters including rules for priests, offerings, and feasts. One thing in common within these chapters is that since God is holy and perfect, he expects holy leaders (priests), offerings/sacrifices, and feasts to be to a certain standard. Here are some examples of the adjectives used: clean vs. unclean, holy, not profane, not defiled, consecrated, without blemish, not mutilated or lame, and perfect.
You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy. (Leviticus 21:8)
Our God is holy, set apart, and perfect, and therefore he cannot tolerate anything impure in his presence. Unfortunately, just like our dirty laundry, we quickly become unclean because of our sin. The hard truth is that God doesn’t just expect perfection from priests, etc. We must also be perfect however this is impossible on our own.
The Old Testament law required animal sacrifices and for priests to meet very high standards. With Jesus we have a permanent and perfect high priest who makes us clean through his death, burial, and resurrection.
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Hebrews 8:1-2)
Because of this, someday we can approach God in all cleanliness and holiness. What a day it will be when even though we’ve managed to screw up so much, we can be judged innocent should we put our faith in Jesus. No more dirty laundry, no more missing socks, only permanently spotless garments showing that we belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Today’s reading: Leviticus 21-23, Hebrews 8