The Cross is Absolutely Everything

I am not a tattoo person. But I’m reconsidering.

My body has done a couple of uncontrollable things while grieving. One of those things is to throw my hands in the air in worship at the mere mention of conquering sin and death. Despite my contemplative countenance in church these days, the cross of Christ seems to command my hands that hang limp at my sides. Up they go, involuntarily, in hope, in gratitude and in triumph. 

Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is a holy, holy day. On this day, Jewish people are relieved of all their sin and guilt. It’s removed from them and, as written in the book of Leviticus, transferred to a bull or ram. This animal is slaughtered and its blood acts as the covering for the people of God. The Scriptures teach: for the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11); and for it is the life of all flesh (Leviticus 17:14); …for the blood is the life (Deuteronomy 12:23).

Yom Kippur is the high holiday of atonement for sin through blood. It’s the yearly culmination of all sin coverings for the Jewish people.

If there’s a God (and I believe there is), and if that God is holy (I believe God is), our relationship is ruptured by sin. Sin as defined by: Things done, left undone, attitudes and autonomy. Simply said - God says this is the good and right way, and I say, I’ll do it my way. Whether we do or don’t do things as a result of our deep hurt or our willfulness, the result is the same: We damage. Which brings death because it ruptures our relationship with God who is Life.

 In the Jewish faith, the relationship between them and God is repaired, in large measure, on this Day of Atonement. For followers of Christ, the Day of Atonement happened at the cross. And its efficacy is total and complete. It’s power covers all people who look to Christ as their covering. Jesus: the once-for-all slaughtered lamb as a once-for-all atonement.

Knowing my David staked his eternal life on this truth after kicking the tires and shaking the trees of his faith for a few college years, (and I’m glad he did that!) makes David’s passing still horrible, I’m not going to lie, but bearable and brimming with hope.

I told a few people, this very non-tattoo type person is considering a tattoo.

Most people ask: Will it be “David”?

No. I tell them. “The. Cross.”

The cross of Christ Jesus has always meant the world to me, but now? It’s everything. Absolutely everything.

I’m real because God is so real. ~Nancy