Oh how I love the old hymns that speak of the blood of our Savior. Hymns such as Are You Washed In The Blood, At The Cross, Glory To His Name, My Hope Is Built, Nothing But The Blood, The Old Rugged Cross, There Is A Fountain and When I See The Blood are just a few that come to mind. The Old Rugged Cross and I Love To Tell The Story are two of my favorites. I Love To Tell The Story does not mention the blood, but the story of Jesus cannot be told without the blood.

Unfortunately, we have grown much too sophisticated and civilized to sing these precious hymns any longer. We would rather bellow out repetitious, one-liner, feel-good, hypnotic, pep-me-ups while waving to the ceiling and swaying back and forth. Nothing depressing and gross, like blood, will ever pass the delicate purity of our lips again. Allow me to ask one question. What are we going to do with the trail of blood that runs all through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation? It is in there folks, and without the blood no one can be saved.

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Taking a quick look at the Passover, we see God by visual means showing all of us, Jew and Gentile, the absolute necessity of the blood.

God instituted Passover in Exodus 12, as He was preparing to deliver Israel from 430 years of Egyptian slavery. The Passover message is for Israel to remind them to never forget what God did for them that day. By the same token, there is a message for us today, and that message leads us to the cross.

Israel was delivered from Egyptian slavery. The Christian is delivered from the slavery of sin.

They had to choose a lamb without blemish to sacrifice. Jesus is our Lamb, without blemish, upon the cross, calling all to come to Him.

God instituted a new year for Israel, to begin on the 10^th of Nisan, which is our March/April. This same time period is our Spring, a time of new beginning each year when nature is born again. The grass turns green and the flowers blossom. Our new year, personally, is a new and exciting beginning with Jesus Christ.

The lamb was chosen on the 10^th and sacrificed on the 14^th, four days later. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the 10^th and was sacrificed upon the cross four days later.

Per God’s instructions, every Israelite had to spread the blood of the sacrifice upon the sides of the door and on top of the door frame of their dwelling. By doing so, a cross was made with the blood, and our Savior died upon the cross, shedding His blood for us.

That same night they were required to roast the lamb with fire while eating bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. The fire represented God’s judgment. Jesus, the Lamb of God, took our judgment upon Himself. The bitter herbs and the bread made without yeast represented an absence of sin. The Lamb of God who knew no sin took our sins upon Himself, and we are without sin, because of Him, if we have come to the cross.

None of the meat, the sacrifice, was to be left until morning. However, if there were any meat remaining, it had to be totally consumed with fire. Jesus Christ has taken the TOTAL judgment of sin, past and present.

The Israelites were to eat the meat with their cloak tucked into their belt, their sandals upon their feet and their staff in their hand. As a new born-again child of God, we are to do the same as per the apostle Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 6:12-17.

They were not to break any bone of the sacrifice. Our Lord had not one bone broken while suffering as our sacrifice.

Israel became a nation by the miracle pregnancy of Sarah and birth of Isaac. Christianity was born by a miracle pregnancy of Mary and birth of Jesus.

Israel was carried forth out of Egypt, and Jesus was carried forth out of Egypt.

When Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem the people shouted, “Hosanna, Son of David.” Hosanna means “Save us.” When Jesus comes into our lives, we are also asking Him to “Save us.”

God told the Israelites in Exodus 12:13;

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” If the blood of Jesus is upon our hearts (our dwellings), God sees the blood and will pass over us at the judgment. No plague of eternal death will befall us when God brings His judgment upon this fallen world.

Before I (and you if you are saved) was saved by His blood, I was a slave to all that Satan had against me. Sin was my Egypt. Death was my destiny. I was not saved because I was a good person. I was not saved through any works of my own. It was the blood flowing from the Lamb of God that made it possible for me to be saved. God the Father said, “My Son has made the only provision to save you. If you will believe Him and accept Him, I will save you. Otherwise, I will destroy you, just as I destroyed the Egyptians.”

Folks, don’t allow the false prophets of this world, and there are many, to deceive you about the blood. Jesus is “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) He is our only hope, our only salvation.

Those who have not as yet come to Him to be saved can be freed from the slavery of sin, but it must be by the blood. Israel was in bondage 430 years. How long have you been in bondage? If you do not have Jesus Christ in your life, you are in bondage and you face eternal death if you reject His shedding of blood for you.

The liberals can remove the blood-soaked hymns from the hymnals if they so choose. They can refuse to allow them within the church meetings if they like. These dear hymns may never be heard again, but there is no erasing the blood of the cross. God had to shed blood to cover Adam and Eve. The Passover is one of many Old Testament pictures of that bloody cross. And understand this, when Jesus returns He will shed much blood, but it will not be His.

All of us, sooner or later, will see Jesus face to face. Will He see the blood on your heart’s door? If He does, you are His. If He does not, He will be your judge and your judgment will be much greater than Egypt’s.

Grant Phillips

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

 

Assuming these statistics to be correct, about 155,500 people die daily in the world and about 6,000 die daily in this country. Included in these numbers are people of all ages. Also, death comes in many forms, but it eventually comes for us all. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I still here?”

I’ve seen friends and family members come and go. Many others I do not know are no longer among us. Yet, for now, I’m still here, and so are you if you are reading this.

Apparently, our days are predetermined by God.

“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” (Job 14:5)

I have no doubt that God has predetermined that I would be born in a certain family, and in a certain location. I believe God even lays out a path for us to follow in life, and when we stray from that path, His Spirit is still guiding us to accomplish His will.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28-31)

Regardless of our age at present and when we die, we’re here for a reason. I grant you, it isn’t always clear, but again our Lord God can be trusted.

Many fine contemporary Christians have passed away while still relatively young. I have scratched my head wondering many times, “They were doing such a great work for the Lord and now they’re gone. Why?”

Regardless of our time on earth, if we are His child, He has a purpose for our life. In my immaturity I may think that another’s life has been cut short if they die ever so young, but even in those situations, Satan cannot annul God’s plan for us.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

One of my nephews died young, but before his death many people were mightily influenced by his love for Jesus. Also, he suffered several years before going home to be with the Lord. However, in his suffering I must say again, that so many people observed his love for Jesus, despite his circumstances. I have no doubt that God touched many lives by his life and his death.

Apart from the Rapture, we are all going to die. So what are we going to do with this life that God has given us? Most of us make anything but Jesus our life. Many are consumed with their occupation, thinking it will fulfill them. Some even wrap themselves up in their families and everyday living. God tells us to look elsewhere.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:6-8)

We don’t understand many things about life and death. We may not see the total picture of why we are still here and others have left so soon. We often think we can’t make a move until we see the end, but the Scriptures say;

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

If you are a child of God and finding it hard to understand (1) why you are here, and (2) how can He use you to glorify Jesus; I have a suggestion. Why not just ask Him? Jesus said that we can ask Him anything, so why not ask Him to show you why you are really still here? Ask Him what He would like from you and He will show you.

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14)

Life is more than jobs, hobbies, vacations, sports, amusements, and anything else. The extracurricular activities in our lives are certainly fine in their own right. They are a part of our lives, but are we still here on earth to play baseball, for example? Maybe we are. If I can glorify Jesus amongst others while I play the game, then maybe that is my pulpit. If I can run a business and glorify Jesus with those I meet, that could be my pulpit. Isn’t it true that we could have many pulpits in our lives? It most certainly is true.

So why am I here? I am here as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to glorify Him and tell others about Him. If we can go through life with that attitude and determination, our mission is clear. God will take care of the rest, and when my job is finished, He will reward me by bringing me home to be with Him.

I don’t know why some of us live but a few years and others live many years. I don’t know why death comes cruelly to some, while others die in their sleep. These are questions of which only God has the answers. The only thing I really need to know and practice is, “Is my life honorable to Jesus Christ?” Don’t you agree?

Grant Phillips

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html