I really hope this story will not cause my family and friends to begin thinking that I need to apply for assisted living someplace; I don’t think I am but I need to wear my glasses when I am preparing meals and reading the instructions – that’s for sure!
I don’t do much cooking any longer since it is usually “just me”, so I’ve started buying some prepared meals. This week I dug out a Stouffer’s Pizza Roll package from the freezer to try. There were two pieces in the package, but one was plenty. The instructions stated that you could cook the pizza in a conventional oven, or pre-cook in the microwave and then toast it in the oven. I chose the second method. I read the instructions to say “Cook in microwave for eleven and one half minutes, written numerically. Then toast in oven for 6 minutes”. I thought, “Ok, the oven will be ready by the time the microwave portion is finished”. I was making myself a salad when I started to smell smoke and at first thought it was something stuck on the glass burner. Quickly, however, I realized that thick, black smoke was billowing out of the microwave. A dark, dense fog was engulfing my kitchen! I turned off the microwave and grabbed a towel to swish around the air; opened windows and the front and back doors; and turned on the stove vent, as well as every other useful fan. I desperately hoped the smoke alarm would not go off! My pizza roll in the microwave had become a charred black log! I re-read the instructions and realized that actually the instructions were to microwave the pizza for ONE and one half minutes! Oh my! The neighbors may have thought I was preparing a sacrifice of a burnt offering to the Lord! Thankfully, the smoke alarm did not activate! I pulled the second pizza roll from the package and successfully followed the instructions that time!
The whole episode though, DID make me think of the sacrifices of Burnt Offerings that were required of God’s people in the Old Testament, as described in Leviticus, Chapters 1-5. The correct procedure must have been a tremendous and unpleasant ordeal. Just think of the blood and smoke that abounded as the people obeyed the Lord’s instructions. Sin Offerings or Guilt Offerings, made first, required: a young bull for the high priest; a male goat for leaders; a female goat or lamb for the common person; a turtledove or pigeon for the poor and fine grain for the very poor. These offerings were for mandatory atonement for unintentional sins and cleansing from defilement. Also, this was for confession of sin; and forgiveness from sin. Guilt Offerings were similar with only a ram as the sacrifice and also paying a 20% fine to make restitution.
The Bible says that Burnt Offerings were to be a bull, ram, or male bird (pigeon for the poor); wholly consumed with no defect. This offering was a voluntary act of worship; atonement for unintentional sin in general; expression of devotion, commitment and complete surrender to God. Other sacrifices were Peace Offerings and Grain Offerings– all for voluntary acts of worship, thanksgiving and fellowship. Also included was recognition of God’s goodness and provisions, as well as devotion to God. God’s instructions were specific and intentional; to be obeyed without exception.
All of this changed when Jesus came into the world; praise God! Jesus removed the physical sacrifices made to God for us, as He became the perfect sacrifice Himself. (I learned a few months ago that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, near the shepherd’s field where the perfect, sacrificial lambs grazed. Isn’t that neat?) The Lamb of God became the perfect lamb offering Himself on the cross, as He took on all of our sins and made us righteous before God, His Father. Hebrews 13:15, 16 says, “Through Him then, let us continuously offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”. Can we even recognize what a perfect gift this is? Judgment Day is coming; a day of love from Jesus. If we are living for Him here on Earth, He will welcome us to live with Him in Heaven. We can have confidence on that day and eagerly take the inheritance that God promises to those who have been faithful. He is preparing a place for His own that we cannot even imagine. In I Corinthians 2:9, “…just as it is written, things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered in the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him”. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We should thank God everyday for sending Jesus to die in our place.
The Bible has much to say about carefully following God’s instructions for right living and obedience to God’s Word. Proverbs 1:8, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching”. Proverbs 4:13, “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life”. Proverbs 8:33 -36, “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death”. Proverbs 23:12, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge”. I Timothy 6:3, “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.”
Just as I misread the instructions on how to prepare the pizza dinner and then suffered the consequences, it will be so much more serious and eternally damning for those who fail to follow God’s instruction for righteous living here on earth. Instead of a black, putrid smoke sacrifice to God, let us go quietly and humbly about our ordinary and daily tasks, living joyfully, and leaving behind the sweet fragrance of Jesus’ love to those around us! This is an Offering that will always be acceptable and pleasing to God!