Hebrews 10:8-10 (ESV)

When he (Jesus) said above, ‘You (God) have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Many of us live in a constant state of conflicting emotions, swinging back and forth on a pendulum of extremes. At times we feel in control, confident in our abilities, proud of our skills, intellect, or achievements. Life is good, and we think, “yeah, I’ve got this! No help needed here!” But then, there are times we feel inadequate, inferior and a failure. All self-assured confidence is completely lost.

A great example of this emotional pendulum is on graphic display at the highest levels of sports. We have all seen the proud demonstrations of the NFL athlete catching the long pass for a touchdown. According to this player’s following actions, he is the greatest of all time. But minutes later, when he has the opportunity to give his team a chance to win the game, an easy catchable pass goes through his two hands, and into the waiting hands of the opposing safety. Game over! Complete failure! This emotional ride is in fact a part of life for all of us.

The writer of Hebrews brings attention to the difference between God’s old covenant with Israel and the new covenant with all of mankind. The old covenant was only temporary because it was inadequate and incomplete. It was designed by God to demonstrate how truly hopeless we all are without Him. Our problem is the sin we are born with, and its consequence of separation from a Holy God and a death penalty. Those living under this covenant swung from feelings of pride to feelings of guilt and shame.

But the new covenant was God’s plan designed before the creation of man. His plan was to remove sin’s consequences and its effects. This was done when God’s perfect, sinless Son Jesus took the sin of all upon himself, and paid the complete consequence of death and separation from God. God’s justice for all of us was served by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven gives all of us hope. All who believe and receive by faith the finished work of Jesus have received not only the forgiveness of all sin, but also the removal of all its consequences. The righteousness of Jesus now makes us permanently right with God. All guilt, shame and condemnation are removed. God replaces our own fallible efforts to try and please Him with His Spirit. Now it is God in us that is doing the good work.

This week, remember it is not, I’ve got this, but God has got this! All of it! If you do not have Jesus and the righteousness He gives, simply receive Him by faith, and you too can have the same miraculous gift.