Freshly Slaughtered

Some years ago my husband and I went to Russia on a mission trip. One evening we went to what was considered a "nice" restaurant. After arriving and waiting outside for our seating, a gentleman pulled up in an old truck. He took out a sickly looking lamb and then disappeared out back with the animal. I wasn't quite sure what was going on but my mind was somewhat restless. Our wait to get into the restaurant was long. After being seated our tour guide ordered the meal for us all. We waited for what seemed like hours before our dinner was served. You can guess what the night's specialty was - lamb. I kept thinking how in America we have USDA graded meat. I believe that means an inspection of the animal and the way it gets to the market and then on a menu. I had never partaken of freshly slaughtered cuisine before. I could not enjoy the meal. My mind's eye raced back to the poor lamb I had seen just hours before resting on the ground.
Recently my Pastor took us to the tenth chapter of Hebrews. In verses 19-20 we find that we can have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way He opened for us through the curtain, that is the flesh. The word "new" in these verses means freshly slaughtered. For some reason that really impacted me. I tend to view the Cross as an event that happened 2000 years ago. While the Cross represents Jesus' death that paid for my sins and the sin of all mankind, to imagine Him as freshly slaughtered takes my breath away. To compare the freshly slaughtered lamb that made me feel uncomfortable at the dinner in Russia with the Lamb that was slaughtered for my sins almost seems sac religious. However there is a comparison. The lamb that was slain for my dinner was to feed me, that I could enjoy my meal and the time with friends. The Lamb that was slain on the Cross was to give me life. A life that I could enjoy because He paid for the price of my sins. Because Of Christ's death I can approach a holy God and He sees me with freshly slaughtered blood - that of His only Son! I never want the Cross to be an event that is a 2000 year old memory. I want to see myself covered in freshly slaughtered blood. Hopefully this will change my way of living!