The Liar & The Lawyer

The title of today's lesson was "I want to be a teacher," and so I taught all 3 of my students the titles of different occupations from a set list the main teacher had selected. The last one was "lawyer," which my students pronounced as "liar." I had to explain that while they sounded similar the two "occupations" are quite different.

The last couple of days I've been listening to the Liar. Because Saturday night, I goofed up and I've been putting off God. I've been hiding in the corner. Why? Because this is what I heard...

If you go to God with your sin and ask for forgiveness, it's going to hurt. If it doesn't hurt, it doesn't mean you've thought this through long enough. There's a price to be paid, you know?

And I avoided God. I knew I needed to ask God for grace but I didn't want it to hurt. I set aside tonight to sit down and get it over with. Like ripping off a band-aid, as one of my friends put it.

This morning while under the covers, I texted one of my sisters, half-explaining what was going on in my heart. She told me to read Hosea to remind me who I am and why I'm here. But I didn't. I didn't want to be reminded because I was afraid. The Liar handed me a cup of coffee. Maybe Saturday night was one step back towards where you came from. Maybe you haven't really changed after all.

Instead of flipping to Hosea, I opted for my "Bible in a Year" reading passage. Leviticus. I've probably read Leviticus 4 or 5 times. It's the book that always gets me stuck when I try to read the Bible in a year. I've never understood all the laws and purification rituals and sacrifices. I didn't undertand it...until tonight.

Because this morning I read about atonement for sin--which literally means a reparation for sin. A price must be paid. The reparation comes through shed blood. A sacrifice is made, blood is sprinkled, and sins are atoned.

And as I moped around the house trying to avoid God, I heard these words of "Before the Throne of God Above" and I stopped.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

The great High Priest whose name is love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end for all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God the Just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

My High Priest, my Lawyer, stands in my defense before the Just Judge. The sinless Savior died--a sacrifice was made, blood was shed, and my sins were atoned for. They're forgiven. They were nailed to the cross with my guilt and my shame, and Christ died for them. And He rose again 3 days later victoriously. Victorious over sin, shame, and the grave.

I know how easy it is to go back, but one night doesn't mean I'm a lost cause. The cross of Christ is more powerful than that. So with the bread and the cup, I remembered my Savior's sacrifice and the freedom He's given me. The Liar told me tonight was going to hurt. But the Lawyer said my case was closed--I am already redeemed by the blood of Jesus and He can't love me any more than He does right now.