Dear Lighthouse,

 

            Well, another week has flown by.  It seems like time goes so fast in the summer when its packed with all sorts of activities.  Last week I got a chance to do some grilling outside.  We had some deer steaks that we wanted to grill.  This is kind of gross, but as I was throwing away the paper they were wrapped in, some of the blood leaked out and left a nice blood trail across our driveway to our house.  I noticed this as I was walking back into the house from the garbage cans.  As I was cleaning up the mess it made me think, though, of the Passover.

            If you’re not familiar with the Passover account, check out Exodus 11 & 12.  The Passover was the result of the final plague sent on Egypt when they kept the Israelites in slavery.  This plague was the death of the first born in all the land.  “About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.  Every firstborn son in Egypt will die…” - Exo.11:4-5  God was going to bring judgment on the land because of its rebellion against Him by not releasing His people, the Israelites.  However, He provided a way of escape for His people so that they would not suffer the same fate as Egypt.  Their first born would be “passed over” if they were obedient to God’s instructions.  “…Israel must slaughter them [ lambs] at twilight.  Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.  That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast…. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.  No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”  - Exo. 12:6-8, 13

            The Israelites were God’s chosen people.  They understood God’s character.  He was righteous, just, and merciful.  He is still the same today.  God will not tolerate sin, He will bring judgment on it, but He always provides a way of escape from the Law’s judgment for those who are willing to be obedient to His Word.  They commemorated this event for hundreds of years with the Passover Feast and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

            It was during these feasts that Jesus Christ was crucified.  Coincidence?  Not at all.  I Corinthians 5:7 makes it clear what Jesus really is to us as Christians, God’s chosen people today.  “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast --as you really are.  For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”  Amazing, isn’t it?  Even to this very day we find our situation the same as in Egypt long ago.  God will not tolerate the sin in our lives.  He has passed judgment on those in sin - the certainty of Hell.  But, He has provided a way of escape:  Jesus, the Passover Lamb.  You see, when God looks on our lives He will either see the Blood of His Son covering our sin and paying our debt or He won’t.  Those under His judgment in Egypt were destroyed.  Those under His protection - in a covenant relationship of obedience - were passed over. 

            The question is this:  When God looks on your life, what does He see?  Is the Blood of Christ covering you?  If it is rejoice!  You have life, freedom, and assurance in Christ!  You are protected and sealed with Him.  Keep up your relationship with Him and serve Him in appreciation for the mercy you have been shown.  Be diligent in getting rid of the “old yeast” or old habitual sin in your life.  If it isn’t, stop and think.  Reason it out.  Why have you not accepted Jesus as your savior?

            I cleaned up the blood on my driveway last week.  But I will allow nothing to remove the Blood of my Savior on my soul until He comes again!  May His peace rest on all of our houses and on the Lighthouse Fellowship.