for 22 SEP 07: THE DEVIL, YOU SAY
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)
"I am not the devil," a man declared at my poker table the other night. Some might have reached that conclusion, because he had just won a pot with three 6's.
"But I am a close relative," the man continued. Uh-oh. He was joking, but now he had stepped across a line with me. Why would anyone in his right mind want to associate himself with the devil? But then again, we were in a bar - and who knows how many beers the man had drunk.
A lot of people would like to think the devil is a fictional character. We've noted here before how two local high schools have devils of various colors as mascots. Yet for some reason, Calvary Christian hasn't balanced that out by naming its sports team the Angels.
Yet people who read the Bible tend to reach a different conclusion -- that the devil is real, and is behind all kinds of wrong things in our world. But how people see the devil working is open to question. Is he in O.J. Simpson? The Jena, Louisiana District Attorney? Or both?
This is an important weekend for many Jews and Christians, when it comes to the devil. Before you get the wrong idea - no, they're NOT privately celebrating Halloween one month early....
Friday night and Saturday mark the Biblical Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. The book of Leviticus describes an ancient ceremony where the sins of mankind are placed on the head of a goat, which can depict Satan. Who knows how many Jews quietly wish the goat could also depict the President of Iran?!
The ceremony on the Day of Atonement indicates a time is coming when God will put all human sins on the devil who inspired them - then cast Satan far away. To put it in Columbus terms: your sins might be abandoned in a field southwest of Eufaula.
This is a wonderful thing to consider - a time when all sins are gone. It's going to take the return of Jesus to bring this about. After all, Democrats in Congress can't even get Fort Benning soldiers out of Iraq....
It's worth considering Leviticus 16 this weekend, along with several chapters in the book of Hebrews - because they describe a high priest named Jesus who offered Himself for our sins. The Bible indicates it's better to be a "brother" of Jesus. If you think you're related to Satan now, I recommend trying to become a distant cousin - and "once removed."
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: "The Family Redeemer" drama based on the book of Ruth, FREE at Lakebottom Park at 5:00 p.m. ET.... you'll find Boaz is not just a place with outlet stores....
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