Our earth has several layers–an outer crust, a sticky layer, a liquid layer, and a solid core. The temperature at this core is more than 10,000 degrees Farenheit—hotter than the surface of the sun–so hot it that burns up every particle of dirt. This pure core only vaguely illustrates an attribute of Almighty God. God is perfectly pure without a single defect. Still, He invites us to draw near to Him when we come in the way He tells us. We read this in Leviticus 22: “If you present a gift as a burnt offering to the LORD you will be accepted only if your offering is a male animal with no defects . . . Do not present an animal with defects, because the Lord will not accept it on your behalf.” This rule taught ancient people that God is holy and we must approach Him only in the way He directs. God’s purity is why He sent His sinless Son into the world to die for our sins on the cross. Since God is pure, only a perfect human could suffice as an acceptable sacrifice. Today, we respect a person’s free will to choose whom they will trust for their eternal salvation, but followers of Christ believe and accept that He is God’s perfect Lamb, whom John the Baptist said “takes away the sin of the world.”
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
