Free.

Leviticus.

I have never been interested in Leviticus. I have been content to skip those 40 pages of my Bible and flip to a more "relevant" section. But I've made a commitment to read through the Bible, from cover to cover, before graduation, so I sat down and read it. All the way through. For the first time in my life.

It was incredible. Though many of the priestly laws or laws governing sacrifice or commands to eat only animals that chew cud and are cloven-footed are no longer rules that I have to live my life under, it was humbling to me to realize the magnitude of the law God placed before his people. In reading Leviticus, I was humbled by the harsh reminder of the fact that I will never and can never live up to the law of God. But I was also humbled by the sweet reminder that Jesus has redeemed me, that I am now free from the punishment that I deserve under the law.

God delivered to Moses his divine law to govern the people of Israel. Of the five books of the Pentateuch that comprise the law, Leviticus spends the most time discussing the "dos" and "don'ts" of Old Testament law. In essence, Leviticus is a collection of liturgical legislation that discusses everything from laws governing sacrifice and celebration to dietary law. In my Bible it spans 27 Chapters, and in my opinion the law seems nearly impossible to abide by.

My goodness, I look to the Ten Commandments and I've broken every one of them. I've never killed a man, mind you, but I have committed murder in my heart. If I'm unable to keep just the Ten Commandments, how then could I ever hope to abide by all of the statutes placed forth in Leviticus to find favor in God's eyes?

I stray. Often. I lose sight of the important thigns and surrender to sin. I allow my heart to wander. When I really think about it, I don't believe that enough cattle, or sheep, or rams without blemish existed in the entire Old Testament world to atone for my sin.

Thank goodness I'm no longer held to that standard. I am free from the law. Jesus has called me. He has redeemed me. I am saved and no part of it has been my own doing. My salvation doesn't rest on how well I live, how many good things I can do before I die. And I don't have to atone for my sin by taking animals to the temple to sacrifice to God. The Lamb of God died for me. I am free from the law.

I wish that I could say that this knowledge keeps me firmly grounded in a constant and faithful walk with God, but it doesn't. My faith is like shifting sand. I'm reminded of the lyrics of Derek Webb's song "Beloved". Written from Christ's perspective, the first verse of the song never fails to speak powerfully to me:

"Beloved these are dangerous times
because you are weightless like a leaf from the vine
and the wind has blown you all over town
because there is nothing holding you to the ground

so now you would rather be
a slave again than free from the law"

I may be distracted by lesser things. I may allow myself to be "blown all over town", but ultimately that doesn't change anything. I am free from the law. Christ came to redeem me. God is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me. It doesn't get any sweeter than that. I have found freedom in Jesus. I am free.