CURSES!

Hebrews 10:1-10
1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about Me in the scroll--I have come to do Your will, O God.'" 8 First He said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them." . . . 9 Then He said, "Here I am, I have come to do Your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I have a suggestion for fans of the Chicago Cubs. Embrace the curse! It's the only way.

For readers who don't care about baseball, hang on, this is interesting. Since 1908, the Cubs have been finding amazing ways to avoid winning. They blame it on a curse.

In 1945, a man paid for two seats to a World Series game--which was fine, except the second seat was for a goat. Cubs' officials booted them both out of the ballpark. Supposedly, the fan put a curse on the team. The Cubs lost, and haven't been to a Series since.

I say, face the curse head-on. Buy a goat and give him a place to graze in the bullpen--which, of course, will have to be renamed. And get that black cat from 1969 a box seat of his own. (That's another story, and another curse.)

What is the official theological position of Soul Journey on all this? Sure, we believe in the curse. We're all under a curse.

Long ago, the first man and woman rebelled against God (Genesis 3:1-6). Because of that, the human race began to die, just as God had warned (2:17).

God's justice demanded that someone pay for our sins. But then God's love showed us that He had Someone in mind all along--His own Son. In the Old Testament, this future sacrifice was pictured by the system of animal sacrifices and by a scapegoat, who symbolically carried the sins of the people into the wilderness to die (Leviticus 16:10). Jesus became that once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10).

We who trust in Jesus are no longer under the curse of sin and death (John 3:17). We are "being made holy" through His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14). The curse of sin has been lifted. Jesus has conquered sin and death for us.

Now, as for you Boston Red Sox fans and the curse of the Bambino--sorry, you're on your own. --Tim Gustafson

DESTINATION POINTS

* Will animal sacrifices pay for my sins today? Did they ever? (Hebrews 10:1-4).
* Was it an easy decision for Jesus to go to the cross for me? (Mark 14:32-38).

LINKS:
Breaking the Cubs' Curse
http://www.hnn.us/articles/1674.html

bottom line: Jesus died for us so we can live for Him.

soul journey