Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.  Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. - Hebrews 7:24-27

Last week, on Veteran’s Day, we had the distinct privilege of remembering the past and current members of our armed forces.  These brave men and women have offered their lives to give the rest of us freedom to live ours.  Marring the grateful appreciation was the reality that no matter how safe we feel, evil lurks not only without but within.  However, even in the midst of the terror at Ft. Hood, come stories of individuals selflessly sacrificing their own well-being for the good of others.  Amidst the bravery which fights for freedom around the world, comes the reality: one person can’t do it all, not one soldier, not one commander, not even the president. 

I suppose that’s why the message of Jesus also sounds a bit farfetched.  How could one person, Jesus, live and die and then declare that this one life and death was enough payment to save the world from the eternal terror of hell?  To the rational mind this seems impossible. We know how impossible it is to feel like we have done enough good to stand before God, let alone do enough to assure the whole world of this!   But we try.  We do good things for other people to offset the bad.  We compare ourselves to others and feel like we are on the “better half” if God were to judge the world.  But the fact remains, we can’t save ourselves or anyone else.

But Jesus is different.  The Bible says, “…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.”  The big difference is that Jesus is God, proving it by his resurrection from the dead.  As God he is perfect.  As God he IS able to save completely those who come to God through him.  As God, “he sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” 

So what does this mean for you today?  You can be at peace knowing that although evil is evident around you and may even affect you, in Jesus you can be completely confident and grateful that your sin is paid for and heaven is yours.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have to worship and learn of you.  Please protect that freedom.  Most of all I thank you that through your life, death and resurrection you have freed me from the evil of sin to live in a way that glorifies you.  Amen.

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