He became us!

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For us, sin changed the equation. We were made in God's likeness so we could bring him continual praise, but we traded a lifetime for a temporary piece of deceit. We fell hard, and now live under the shadow of a hard taskmaster. But God be praised, who keeps offering us a way back to him. That way is through blood. Sounds odd, but from time immemorial, blood has always signified life. In its shedding, life is taken and given, if it is the right kind. In the old order, the blood of bulls and goats had to be offered to cover sin; it could not take it away.

Enter the perfect lamb of God, who was offered for the sin of the whole world, born and yet to be born. The blood of bulls and goats had to be offered continually; the blood of the Lamb was offered just once, and it is valid for all time. There is no sin stronger than the blood. There is no sin so bad that the blood cannot address; no past so grave that it is beyond the grace of God. The Lamb was sinless, yet because of us, he became known as sin, he bore the sin, and died in our place as the price for our own sin. It was the only way the full price for our sin could be fully and adequately discharged.

So I stand today, not because I have good feet, but because I have received help. I stand today, not out of personal strength, but from the grace of total freedom from sin I have received through the one who died so I could live.

A price had to be paid. Blood was the cover, death the price, sin the cause, eternal life the prize. I couldn't pay the price, so he paid it in full. Death was mine, but he took my place and died instead. He lives now, so I can also enjoy true life, not just here, but in eternity. Have I tapped into this? His time of favour is here.