Cows and Goats

This post is a little on the weighty side.  I write this today with a heavy heart.

For the majority of the people living here, today is a very significant religious day. For a couple of weeks, we’ve seen empty lots and fields fill with goats and cows. We’ve laughed at how strange it is to see people walking their newly purchased animals down the main roads, a goat on the front of a motorcycle, or riding in a rickshaw. I’m not going to lie, it’s comical. That’s not something we’re likely to see in America and one of those cultural sights that makes one really aware of the fact that this is a very different country. What made my heart heavy this week though, is that this has all been leading up to today.  It’s the Day of Atonement and those lots and fields are now empty.

On our way to church this morning we passed by a ceremony in progress.  Faithful ones had brought their goats or cows to be the blood sacrifice for their sins, and there were many that had already been slaughtered and hung up. While I didn’t see the entire ceremony, this brought a new understanding of what it looked like in the Bible when offerings were brought to the temple and presented to the priest.  There were celebrations last night in anticipation for today. Throughout the country, crowds were walking the streets with torches, chanting, and lighting fireworks.

           “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the [Indonesians] is that they may be saved.  For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.  Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness.  Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes…. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:1-5, 13.

This week I have been gripped with a conglomeration of emotions about this whole experience. 

One. I am the teary-eyed kind of grateful for the love of my God.  He no longer requires a blood sacrifice for my sins. Jesus accomplished that on the cross and we have been freed from condemnation through Him. Once and for all.  I can’t express my joy over this with words.  My heart is so full!

Two. I’m surrounded by those who are in desperate need of this freedom. Romans 10 has been a chapter I have gone back and read countless times while I have been here, and this morning my pastor here prayed the above verses over the people of Indonesia. He pleaded with the foreigners in the congregation to, at least just for today, claim this land as our own, and these people as our people, and cry out on their behalf.  

Three.  I wonder what it’s like to experience a “cleanse from sin” every year.  I wonder what kind of emotions they feel after the whole process is finished.  

Four.  How do I even begin reaching out? Romans 10:14-15. I know God has a plan. Wondering what my part here is….

Please pray for this country and for my interactions with those who live here.  There is a great amount of spiritual warfare.  Pray that I’m reminded daily of why I’m here and that it’s on the forefront of my mind. 

Thank you, and God bless!!