Hebrews 7:11-22
Nobody wants a temporary fix to become permanent. Humanity had a serious problem; it was a deadly problem. Humanities problem was sin, rebelliousness and a broken relationship with God. God recognize the problem and had a plan that in the fullness of time he would put forth a solution that would offer salvation to whoever was willing to receive it. God knew that humanity would have to be prepared to recognize and accept the gift that he was offering. As a temporary fix, God gave Moses the law and initiated the Levitical priesthood.

God knew that the law could not save anyone. The law is holy and good, but it could neither give the ability to fulfill its demands nor provide the atonement necessary for those who violated it. Since nobody could keep the law, the law clearly revealed our need for God’s help. In revealing our need for God’s mercy and grace, the law served its purpose.

The second part of God’s temporary fix was the Levitical priesthood. Earthly priests were to commit their lives to serving God, and serving his people. The yearly Day of Atonement ritual allowed imperfect men to make imperfect sacrifices to a perfect God. God in his love and mercy accepted humanities sacrifices in spite of their imperfections. God wanted to forgive humanity. However, God’s forgiveness was not enough to change the sinful heart.

God knew that for real change to take place a perfect priest must make a perfect sacrifice. He sent his son Jesus to be that priest in the order of Melchizedek. God had replaced his temporary solution to humanities sin problem with the eternal solution through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ on the cross. God’s eternal solution to the sin problem is not a yearly ritual; it is a daily walk with Jesus. The longer we walk with him the better we will know him. The longer we walk with Jesus the more like him we become. Walking with Jesus draws us near to God.