Leviticus 16:20-22
When Aaron finishes making atonement for the Holy of Holies, the Tent of Meeting, and the Altar, he will bring up the live goat, lay both hands on the live goat's head, and confess all the iniquities of the People of Israel, all their acts of rebellion, all their sins. He will put all the sins on the goat's head and send it off into the wilderness, led out by a man standing by and ready. The goat will carry all their iniquities to an empty wasteland; the man will let him loose out there in the wilderness.
There's something about knowing that all my sins are taken away, never to return. One of my favorite Audio A songs is "Ocean Floor". I know that it's all metaphoric, but there is a peace knowing that when I look at my past - it can stay there. Is it that easy, no. Do things resurface, yes. But when we give them all to HIM, we don't have to worry anymore...
1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.
In today's reading, we find the importances of a quality sacrifice and offerings to The Lord: Your sacrifices should be pure, as perfect as it can be. It should be with your whole heart that you repent of the sins that you have committed. And think about it - every time any sin was committed, they's have to have an offering. So yes, if you told a white lie, you were/are guilty of sin. Time to repent.
I'm thankful that I don't have to bring an animal to an alter for a sacrifice (have I mentioned that I was a vegetarian for 5 years - reading about blood and fats and organs is not my favorite thing to do). I'm thankful that every time I mess up, I can ask for forgiveness and it is given.
