My friend and running partner, Jordan, and I had made a quick stop at the grocery store on the way home from the indoor gym where we run laps together. But now our engaging conversation held us in the parking lot, while the wipers of his SUV were kept busy by the falling snow. A couple of months earlier, I had given Jordan a book, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, and had been praying in earnest that the truth of God’s Word would impact his heart. He had already read the book twice, and lately it seemed that my prayers were being answered. He would often bring up spiritual questions when we were running.
This time, we had been discussing what God expects of us regarding confession of sins. This was a big concern for Jordan as he had grown up in a religious environment dominated by this subject. Our conversation went something like this:
“So, if a church is preaching that you have to keep coming back to confession to a priest or pastor in order to be forgiven,” Jordan queried, “that doesn’t make sense according to what Jesus did, does it?”
“Well, do you remember how, in the Old Testament, the high priest would have to go into the Holy of Holies again and again and…”
Jordan cut in, “Yeah, I remember that from the book (The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus). He had to bring with him the blood of a perfect lamb to make atonement for the sins of the people. And, didn’t he have to do it every year?”
“Yes, because it only covered the sin. It didn’t remove it,” I replied. “But when Jesus died on the cross…”
“Oh! That’s why Jesus says he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” Jordan interrupted again. “He was God. He lived a perfect life which is why he is the only one who qualifies to die in our place—for our sins. It can’t be another sinner. It HAS to be Jesus.” I could almost see the dots connecting in his mind.
“And the moment before Jesus died on the cross, do you remember what he cried?” I asked.
“‘It is finished!’ Man’s sin had been taken care of once-for-all.” Jordan answered correctly and confidently.
“But Jesus didn’t stay dead, did he?” I continued. “He rose again. But, do you remember where he is now? The Bible says that he is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is there as a permanent, perfect priest, always alive and acting as a mediator for us. We have to change our mind about trusting in ourselves. Instead, if we personally trust in who Jesus was and believe what he did on the cross, we can be absolutely sure that God has forgiven us. The bottom line is that you can be right with God right now—without a man-appointed priest.” I paused to see if Jordan was following. “Does that make sense?” I asked.
“Yeah, that totally makes sense.” Jordan slapped both hands on the steering wheel, turned to me with a grin, and declared, “I’m in!”
Jordan’s declaration triggered in my mind a flood of promises God has given to those of us who are in Christ, especially from Ephesians 2:
“…by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (vv. 5, 6 ESV).
“…that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (v. 7 ESV).
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v. 13 ESV).
I look forward to exploring these and many more of God’s promises with Jordan in the days to come. Who knew that running could be so beneficial both physically and spiritually?!
