24/7

At the beginning of his ministry, Aaron the brother of Moses and head of the priestly family was commanded to maintain the "burnt offering", Leviticus 6:8-13. This sacrifice was to remain on the altar every night and all night so that there would always be a sacrificial offering to preserve the bond between God and His people.

To accomplish this in practical terms required strict adherence to a complicated cycle of rituals that put a great stress on both resources and human energy. With time, because of relocation, wars, and apostasy, this command was violated repeatedly, thus proving that a better way was needed.

When the Father sent Christ to offer His precious life as a "once for all" sacrifice for sin (Romans 6:10), the need for a perpetual sacrifice was provided and the Old Testament preview of things to come was fulfilled. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross now stands before God night and day as the offering for our sins 24/7. What all the planning and effort of a legion of priests could not accomplish so many years ago, God has now established through the cross, not just for a day or a year, but guaranteed until the end of time.