Atonement
by Brandy Webb
The Day of Atonement is upon us, and for many, it isn’t the favorite of God’s High Days. For some crazy reason though, I always look forward to it. It is not because I really love to fast. It is also not because fasting is easy for me. It is just something about the fact that it seems like I am renewed on the Day of Atonement. I really feel the “At-One-Ment.”
I truly believe that there is great significance to this day. This was the only day that the highpriest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple. It was the day for the high priest to reconcile Israel to God. To forgive them and cleanse them of the sins committed that year, like receiving a blank slate.
It is for me so much more. We have the ultimate High Priest that has come “with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb 9:11-12). We now have access to the throne. We don’t have to go through a human high priest. We have a High Priest that not only forgives us of our sins but also gives us eternal life.
I think one reason I enjoy Atonement is that I am not distracted by food or drink. It makes me think about the scripture that the Messiah states that we can’t live by bread alone, and for those of us who thirst can come to Him, for He will give us living waters to drink (Matt 4:4; John 4:13-14). It is a reminder for me that it is the Messiah and the Father that I need for survival rather than what is in my refrigerator.
Plus, I love thinking of the future fulfillment of this day. See, in the Temple times there were two goats. One was sacrificed to cleanse Israel and the other had all the sins heaped upon it and sent out into the wilderness (Lev 16). The one sacrificed represents our Messiah who cleanses us, and the “scapegoat,” or Azazel goat, is Satan, who will be taken away into the bottomless pit.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Rev 20:1-2).
Therefore, this Atonement try to not think about the hunger pains, headaches, and dry mouth. Open the Bible, let God feed you and quench your thirst with His Word, and remember that one of these days sin will be no more.