ONE PER HOUSEHOLD Larry W Peebles April 26, 2019 19.13
Many years ago the Friday after Thanksgiving was our favorite time to begin Christmas shopping. As young marrieds, my wife and I often traveled home for Thanksgiving, and we could leave our children with their grandparents the day after the holiday. The two of us were then able to make a great deal of progress on the shopping list at the new mall back in our hometown. Currently the Friday after Thanksgiving has evolved into Black Friday, the single largest shopping day of the year, although internet sales are rapidly taking the place of traditional in-store shopping.
Merchants have fueled Black Friday fever with ever increasing promotions, ultra-low prices, and expanded store hours. In many cases, retailers will sell big-ticket items at well below cost in order to draw shoppers to their stores. They will also limit the quantity of the item available for sale, and will limit the number of items a person or household can buy at that price. The price is usually so ridiculously low that buyers will stand in line until store opening in order to be one of the first fifty or one hundred to buy at the advertised price. When the doors open, the mad rush begins to find and claim one of the items. Courtesy, diplomacy and good manners are non-existent. After standing in line for hours, often in cold or rainy weather, the shopper is not going to be denied the item at the best price of the year. When the supply at that price is gone, it will be too late. To get the maximum benefit of the money spent on the promotion, the store will usually impose a limit of one per household.
Coupons that provide a discount on an item to be purchased are also usually limited. To prevent the buyer from applying multiple coupons to the same item, coupons often contain one or more conditions. The buyer can read the restrictions in the fine print- -one coupon per item, one per person, one per transaction, etc. The store will print and distribute many coupons in hopes that a certain percentage will become potential customers. However, the store must prevent the customer from gathering all the coupons printed and applying them to their purchases. These rules are understandable and necessary when they are clearly disclosed.
This article is written in the week following Passover. In Exodus 12: 1-11, we find God’s clear instructions for the first Passover. The death angel would pass over every (Israelite) house where these instructions had been followed. The Egyptians, of course, knew nothing of the Passover, and they would suffer the terrible consequences of the tenth plague. As a result of this final plague, the oldest male in each (Egyptian) household would die. The Egyptians would then finally set the Israelites free from slavery.
The Israelites were to take a first-year male lamb without blemish (v.5). They were to keep the lamb for four days, then kill it at twilight (v.6). Some of the blood of the lamb was to be put on the doorposts and lintel of the house (v.7). They were to roast the lamb in fire, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs on the night it was killed (v.8). Any that remained in the morning was to be burned in the fire (v.10). It was to be eaten in haste, with a belt on the waist, sandals on the feet, and staff in hand (v.11). This was the Lord’s Passover, and clearly pointed to Jesus (v.11). Every man was to take such a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for each household (v.3). The instruction of one lamb for each household was not a limitation like a big-ticket item on sale on Black Friday, or a coupon. Every Israelite household was to take a lamb, or there would be dire consequences. Indeed, this was a matter of life or death. God did not say there was a restriction of one per household (optional if the household wanted one); He said every household was to take one (essential).
This is still true today. Without the lamb, we are doomed to an eternal death. God still wants every household to find Jesus. The Word of God makes the symbolism of the Passover clear. Jesus is the Lamb (John 1:29). He had no sin/blemish (1 Peter 2:22). His body was broken during the tortuous crucifixion process like the unleaven bread was broken and eaten at Passover (1 Corinthians 11:24). His blood was shed for our sins (Ephesians 1:7). His blood was smeared on the door, because He is the Door (John 10:7). Jesus was actually crucified on the day of the Jewish Passover (John 19:14). There were no remains of the Lamb in the tomb on Sunday morning (John 20: 1-18). Though His death was bitter at the time, like the herbs, it is the most glorious event to ever happen to mankind.
When we confess with our mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved (Romans 10:9). Death has no hold on us, and the promise of an eternal life in Heaven with Jesus becomes real. Our bodies may die, but the essence of what we are, a spirit created in the image of God, lives eternally in heaven. God’s heart is that all would partake of the opportunity to call Jesus Lord and Savior (1 Timothy 2:4).
The Passover was to be eaten in haste, with belt on the waist and staff in hand. The picture given is one of urgency and preparedness. The Israelites had a warning and knew the time the death angel would come. We do not know the day of the return of Christ, but it is just as urgent that we be prepared for the final judgment. Matthew 24:42-43 says- “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”
If we received a text or email threatening a break-in at our home, we would make every preparation. We would add additional locks at every door and window. Home security cameras would go in place to give warning of the approach of a stranger, and to identify him for the authorities. Family members might be sent away for their own safety, and any who remained to guard the property might carry an assortment of personal protection. Local law enforcement would be notified so that patrols could be increased and response time decreased.
The Word of God gives signs of the return of Christ, but it is not date specific. One of the signs is the one given to Israel at the end of the age of the kings. The nation had once again drifted away from God, and had turned to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. They also worshipped false idols, and images made by man, while practicing rituals involving human sacrifice. God warned they would be conquered by another nation and carried off into captivity. Isaiah the prophet said-“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness…Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight….Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man.” (Isaiah 5:20-23).
These words, along with many others too numerous to discuss in this article, describe our current times. It is urgent we prepare for the return of Jesus, the living Savior of the world. We cannot save or protect ourselves. No one can help us. We cannot send precious loved ones away to protect them. Every person will one day confront Jesus, the Son of God who shed His blood to set us free from the captivity of sin. Philippians 2:10-11 says- “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those in earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” At that point, everyone who has ever lived will know who He is, but not everyone will be saved. Those who previously rejected Him will face God’s certain wrath.
Jesus is coming soon, and we must invite Him into our hearts now, before it is too late. Those who know Him will welcome the day of His glorious return. Those who do not know Him will come to know Him, but they will not be prepared to receive Him. They will eternally regret the day of His coming. Without limitation, each and every one must partake of the Lamb now or face disaster.
