As a history teacher, I want students to realize that there is one theme that connects all of history - Conflicts create crises which lead to change. If students can understand that one principle, they can pretty much look at any history situation and analyze the cause-effect relationship between the events. It's THE point; the one thing students must get to truly understand history. I find it funny that I totally grasp that history has one central theme and yet, I missed the fact that the great teacher (our Heavenly Father) has only one main point too. Every sin must be covered by blood, perfect blood.
Please don't stop reading because I mentioned God. Stick with me. This may be the most important thing I have ever tried to write. I am so excited about it, I want to shout! God told us from the beginning that there had to be blood shed. From the very beginning. From Genesis, the very first book!
I always discounted the Old Testament. I always thought... "Well, yeah, it says that, but that's the Old Testament". Then, thankfully, Jesus came and saved us. The New testament is what I have to focus on. I based my faith in Christ alone because without Him, I am guilty of sin and the wages of sin are death. That part of my belief hasn't changed! Jesus Christ is still the one and only way that you can be saved. What has changed is my view of the Old Testament. God isn't simply telling us our history. He isn't simply saying here's how rough it used to be, here are your great forefathers (and mothers) of faith. He is telling us that sin must always be covered by blood. Every single sin. I am blown away by this right now.
You don't have to be a great Bible scholar to know the story of the beginning. God made the world. He spoke it into existence (and trust me, that was the Big Bang). The Garden of Eden was perfection. There was every need supplied and met. Adam walked with God in the evenings. He walked with Him. How incredibly cool is that! And then, ... Mankind screwed it up. Eve believed the serpeant, Adam followed suit. This is the first sin. Think about it. Life was perfect and the first time, someone asks why can't you have absolutely everything? We sin... (You can't see me, but I am shaking my head because wow.. that one just hit home too...) Back to the story of original sin... Adam & Eve sin. They hide from God. (yep.. we still do this.). Then, God asked them what they had done. They confessed. God punished them and future generations for their sin. Then, in Genesis 3:21. it says "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Did you catch it? I never had until this weekend. I knew God clothed them in skins. I guess I always thought that was about sturdier clothing. God providing better for us even when we thought we had it handled with flimsy fig leaves. But it's not! God shed blood to cover the sin. WOW!!!! Sin #1... Sacrifice #1 to cover the sin so we may be forgiven.
Cain and Abel... Exodus from Egypt...All the stories. Every single story points to the one and only point! Our sins require a sacrifice of perfect blood. God, our Heavenly Father, loved us enough to give His one and only son as that sacrifice for us and all we have to do to be covered is totally and honestly accept that TRUTH. It's the only point and He makes it over and over and over from the BEGINNING because it is that important!!!
God is an awesome teacher! He tells us over and over because some of us it takes a little while to grasp it all. I just ordered The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread from Amazon. I feel like this is where I am supposed to focus right now. I'd love it if some of you joined me!!
