The big news this week and possibly of this year has been about America’s return to the moon and the launch of the Artemis space capsule that will be the first crewed flight to the moon in 50 years.
America has always excelled at space exploration; it is synonymous with the American dream of doing great things against all odds. When I was younger, I was a geeky nerd with a dream of becoming an astronaut and going on great space missions myself.
What little boy isn’t fascinated by what space exploration has to offer:
- Adventure
- Challenge/risk
- Escape
- Greatness
I don’t think we have to be religious or spiritual to know how God has placed eternity and the desire for greatness in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11, Romans 11:33). We serve a great God who has great plans for His people (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10).
God gives us each the ability to do great things for His glory, not ours, like many conservatives like to believe (Philippians 4:13, 1 Peter 4:10-11). Unfortunately, humanity’s sin nature has perverted greatness, leading us to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:10, Romans 3:23).
What Is Sin
Most of us understand and believe that sin is a bad thing and part of living in a fallen world. Sin is deceptive because it can make us feel happy and even good, which leads us to think that what we are doing is good and even of God.
But the truth is, good things can also be bad, and that is what sin does to what God calls good. Sin is defined as “An offense against religious or moral law: a transgression against the law of God.”
Despite what many conservatives believe and practice, sin is a human problem, not a political or ethnic one (Isaiah 64:6 6, Romans 5:12). Pride (a sin) makes us think our sin isn’t as bad as the sins of others, but the truth is all send sins man to the same hell (Romans 6:23, James 2:10).
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about sin (Genesis 4:7, James 4:17). All people have sinned, and no one is perfect (Romans 3:10, Galatians 3:22). That is why we all need grace to get to heaven, even God’s people (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7).
Before we come to Jesus, we listen to and follow our sinful hearts and break God’s heart (Romans 6:20; 8:7, Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible is clear that all sin leads us away from God and to death, regardless of who is doing it (Romans 3:23, James 1:14-15, 1 John 1:8-9). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about sin and how it came into the world.
Ḥēṭ’
The Torah tells us that everything God created in the garden and on earth was good, that is, until mankind disobeyed God and wanted to achieve greatness like God (Genesis 3:5). It was mankind’s desire to achieve greatness on their own that led mankind away from God and His divine plan (Genesis 2:16-17). It was our sin that separated us from God.
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for sin is ḥēṭ, and it can also mean “Faults, grievously, or offenses,” depending upon the context it is used in. The relationship between mankind and God was broken in the garden because of humanity’s sin.
That is why God called His people out of this fallen world to help repair that relationship (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 14:2). Ancient Israel was required to offer sacrifices to God out of their love for Him (Leviticus 1:3, Deuteronomy 6:5-6, 1 Samuel 15:22). One of them was specifically for cleansing from sin:
- Olah (burnt offering)
- Zevach Sh’lamim (peace offering)
- Chatat (sin offering)
- Asham (Guilt Offering)
- Minchah(Food and drink offerings)
- Parah Adumah (The Red Heifer)
The New Testament writers identify Jesus as the final and perfect offering to God (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:10-14, 1 Peter 1:18-19). Our Lord humbled Himself and didn’t use His authority or power to pursue earthly greatness like the first Adam (Philippians 2:5-8).
Our Rabbi taught His followers to do what He did if they wanted to be great (Matthew 20:26-28, John 13:15; 14:12).
Holy Week
This week is somber and holy in Christendom. Believers worldwide mourn and rejoice over the willing for sacrifice Jesus made it to save the world from its sin (John 10:17-18). In a matter of days, our Lord dined with His closest friends and even washed their feet, serving them, then was betrayed by some and eventually deserted by them all, and he kept that never judged or thought anyone.
Jesus laid out the path to greatness for God’s people to follow:
- Humility
- Love
- Sacrifice
- Forgiveness
While hanging on the cross, He forgave His friends and His enemies. No, He wasn’t just praying for His enemies as he hung on the cross, but also for his backstabbing followers and friends who would betray and desert Him (Luke 23:34).
Some 2000 years later, many who claim to be friends and followers of Jesus have also betrayed Him by pursuing an earthly king, greatness, and temporary pleasures. Sinful humanity has not changed much at all since the beginning.
Even as those brave astronauts have left this fallen world, they have taken sin with them into outer space and to the moon. Many believers and the American church need to repent and remember the teachings of our Lord, who died for all, not just Americans or a political party. Despite what mankind believes, only Jesus can save us from our ḥēṭ’!
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