The Never-Ending Chore

There is always that job which is never finished; dishes and laundry are the bane of every housewife. It doesn’t matter how quickly they are done, there are always more. Sometimes it feels pointless to even do them, because there will always be more to do. It can feel that way spiritually as well. There will always be temptation and sin. Most of us have a particular sin with which we will struggle all our lives. It will never be completely gone this side of heaven, and, frankly, it can be tempting to just give in to it.

I recently learned that in the Jewish temple there were no chairs. The priests’ work was never done. There was always sin to atone for, a sacrifice to offer, incense to burn. They were never done interceding for the people because there was never an end of sin.

Hebrews 5:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

All humanity sins, and while we should not take this as an excuse to submit to sin, we need to be aware of our condition and that of others.

Hebrews 5:5-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”;

just as He says also in another passage,

“You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

But there was one Man who did not sin. The perfect Priest. And unlike every other priest, when He finished His work He sat down because it was finished.

Hebrews 9:11-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

His final sacrifice was Himself, lifted up to God to pay for the sins of the world and of history. His reign as High Priest will never end, and He will always intercede for us, but He will never need to offer another sacrifice. It was eternal.

Hebrews 10:11-14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Jesus paid it all. His work is finished. His sacrifice atoned for every sin. The catch is that we have to accept that sacrifice and live in it, notice 5:10 said “for those who obey Him.” His eternal sacrifice does not mean that we will no longer sin, or that we can do whatever we want and not be held accountable for it. It means that we can receive forgiveness for our sin without having to offer a sacrifice, but we do have to resist sin and ask forgiveness when we do sin.

Hebrews 10:19-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Jesus’ work is done, but ours is not. How will you choose to live in light of His eternal sacrifice? Will strive to live for/like Him, forsaking sin and offering yourself to God? Or will you take it as an excuse to live how you want? The choice is yours.