February 18
Leviticus 7:1-8:36
Life was so much simpler. My father was born in 1911, and has since passed on. As a child there was no television for him. The first car that he owned was around 1950. Though his father died when he was a baby, and he never knew him, family was at the center of his life. Moving forward to when I was a child, born in 1960, life though a bit more intricate was still fairly simple. There were no cell phones or internet. We owned one car and one television. Whatever was decided to watch on television we all watched. I remember occasionally being able to choose the show, like "Kung Fu", and "Happy Days", but also remember shows like the "Lawrence Welk Show" being on. When I reflect back there was and is benefit to not having all of our own choices. There are messages that I needed to hear and learn sitting with others that I would not have personally chosen. I was not raised strongly in the faith, so in those days my life essentially was centered on family, school, sports, and television. Now that I have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ, He is indeed at the center of my life, which has truly simplified things. God's voice in His word, in prayer, through worship, through fellowship, through my pastor, has become that central voice for me. My family, though grown, is still also at the center of my thoughts. But for those who don't have a real relationship with God, life is anything but simple. Self is elevated. Like little demi-gods they choose everything that they want to surround themselves with. You can watch or listen to anything that you want, anytime you want. There are no filters to what you choose to allow to influence you. The media and the entertainment industry through the Tech industry for the most part has replaced the church and the family from the primary centers of influence. Though many view this as freedom and as advance, they fail to realize that in reality they have allowed themselves to be imprisoned by self and by these very strong influences.
In the wilderness, the tents for the various families were arranged orderly. If one was to look at the Israelite camp from an aerial view it would have looked like a cross. The tabernacle was at the very center of the camp with God's presence visually seen over the structure in the form of a cloud during the day and a fire at night. The rest of the camp was assembled by tribe around the tabernacle. The numbers of the various tribes were unequal, thus the appearance of a cross. Importantly, life, though not easy, was very simple in those days. There was God, family, and the people in the camp. That's it. We read in Leviticus 8:1-4, "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron and his sons, along with their sacred garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of bread made without yeast, and call the entire community of Israel together at the entrance of the Tabernacle.” So Moses followed the Lord’s instructions, and the whole community assembled at the Tabernacle entrance." There were many other times that the entire community assembled around the tabernacle, and before this, around Mount Sinai. Besides this, due to the centrality of the tabernacle, all of the various sacrifices mentioned surrounding the burnt offering, sin offering, guilt offering, peace offering, etc. would be done daily and would have become familiar to everyone. So God's influence truly was at the center of their lives.
God set the proper model of influence. He is to be at the center of our lives, followed by family and community. In the world we now find ourselves living in, this is no longer the case for the vast majority of people. Why is division so intense? Why is there so much hatred? Why does everything seem so polarized? Because the simple formula has been changed. We don't often know what we really need or what is best for us, though through the elevation of self, we falsely believe we know what is best. If you are confused, disillusioned, not knowing where to turn, please go to Jesus. He will simplify your life. He has offered to shoulder your burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). His Word is truth , and this truth will set you free(John 8:31-32). Though things might come and go, He has promised that nothing can ever separate us from Him (Romans 8:35-39). Though the world may condemn you, He will not (Romans 8:1). Though the world and its influences might seem insurmountable, He is stronger and more powerful than everything else (1 John 4:4). We have allowed life to become so complicated because we often willingly remove God from the center of our lives. Peace is and will be obtained in this life only if we allow God to take His rightful place at the center of our life. If you haven't done so yet, please invite Jesus into your life. It is truly simple. Clarity is one prayer away.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: