“The
Cities Of Refuge”
Here
in chapter 19 Moses is instructing the children of Israel upon entering the
promise land to, establish three cities as a refuge for the person who
committed second-degree (accidental) murder. These cities were designed as a
place of protection against the avenger of blood who would seek to take
innocent life.
Similarly
Jesus Christ is a refuge to all who, by faith, flee to Him from their sins by protecting them from death in their sin.
However, just as there was no protection in the cities of refuge for premeditated
murder, there is no protection in Jesus from presumptuous sin.
Does
that mean we need to live sinless lives? No, absolutely not. We all struggle
with sin, but there is a difference between a person who struggles with sin or
even succumbs to sin, and one who practices sin. One may backslide, become
convicted, repent and find refuge in Jesus. But, one who practices sin,
continues in it and does not turn from it, he will eventually be lost to it.
The
Truth
“For Godly
sorrow produces repentance leading
to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
(2 Corinthians 7:10)
