Run Towards The Darkness?

by Jeff Weinkauf - Creative Arts Pastor

46) Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!”
47) Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.
48) He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. —Numbers 16: 46-48 (NASB)

When I recently read this section of scripture as part of Life Journaling, I was struck by the image of Aaron the priest running towards the danger and judgment to stand with God’s atonement between the living and the dead. Because Aaron was obedient and ran into the darkness with God’s pardon, a literal line was established: on one side people died and on the other, people lived.

As I read that passage, I couldn’t help but see the parallel to today. We too also have God’s gift of pardon (Jesus) and are told to go and run towards the judgment that is coming for all men and women. If you’re like me, you might sometimes feel awkward when you try to talk about God. I’m not sure if it’s the stigma that “faith” is a personal matter, or I don’t want to bother someone, or I’m afraid I’ll screw it up. I’m sure it’s any one of a thousand reasons, some of which seem pretty justified in my little mind.

However, when I read this passage I cannot shake the image of people here in our “Jerusalem” cursed to die, because I do not run towards them with life. This season of Easter I’d like to encourage you to ask God to show you where and whom to run to. Put aside your fears (real and imagined) and ask Him to show you the opportunities. You and I, and our life stories about God’s unmerited favor, are the most compelling resource we have to connect with our community. No ad campaign we mount will ever compete with the personal connections and influences you already have.

Join me, grab your “censer” and let’s run towards the darkness.