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The rabbit is a gentle and cuddly pet. Its tender and delicious meat is relished by many. It is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac. Those born in the year of the rabbit are supposed to possess the qualities of good sense, good communicative skills, and good decision making. These qualities are arbitrarily conjured up. On the other hand, the Bible gives the certain judgement of God. It declares the rabbit an unclean animal that was not to be eaten by the Old Testament people of God.1 What appeared lovable and harmless to man is judged ceremonially unclean by God!
The ceremonial law of the Old Testament was intended to teach us that there are such values as right and wrong, good and bad, and clean and unclean. In other words, the holy God is teaching us that there are moral and spiritual values in His sight. With time, it became clear that man is regarded as unclean in the sight of God. “There is none righteous, no, not one.”2 The actions and behaviour of man are unclean because his heart is unclean. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”3
The true purpose of the ceremonial law was perverted by the religious people in the days of Jesus Christ. These religious people tried to find fault with others for not keeping to certain traditions. They were very meticulous in washing their hands in a certain way before they ate. They put on such a show of fasting and prayer. Jesus Christ warned His disciples not to follow them. “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.” “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men… But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”4
Today, many people continue to put on such a show of external religion while failing to see their own inner corruption. They think that their religious rituals and good deeds will win them merit to heaven, but how mistaken they are! The Bible declares that “all our righteousness are like filthy rags”.5 We do not have any righteousness to stand before God. Ever since our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned against God, we have been guilty of sinning against Him. In order to be pardoned by God and to be accepted by Him, we need a perfect righteousness that is from outside of ourselves. That righteousness is found in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to pay for the sins of His people. Whoever repents and believes in Him is declared no more guilty by God because his sins are regarded as taken away by Jesus Christ, while Jesus Christ’s righteousness is regarded as given to him. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “Now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed… even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.”6
We are all unclean in God’s sight. Only Jesus Christ’s blood can cleanse us of all our sins. Only His death on the cross is good enough to cancel our guilt. Confess your sins to God! Trust in Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, to save you! Jesus Christ alone gives eternal life!
Lev. 11:6; Deut. 14:7 2. Rom. 3:10 3. Mark 7:21-23 4. Matt. 6:16, 5-6 5. Isaiah 64:6 6. Rom. 5:8; 3:21-22
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