Flip through nearly every calendar and you will find listed in September or October a day known as, "Yom Kippur." For many this day comes and goes each year without us paying much thought or attention to it. I think we rank it up there with another day in October, which I am only reminded of when I go to the post office and see the "closed" sign. Yes, only then am I reminded of a guy named Columbus who sailed the ocean blue in 1492. However, I believe Yom Kippur deserves a little more honor and respect.

Webster's dictionary defines, "Yom Kippur" as, "One of the Jewish High Holidays, the Day of Atonement, a fast day observed on the 10th day of Tishri: see Leviticus 16:9-34." The word "Yom" is the Hebrew word for day and the word "Kippur" means to atone for or cover. And thus "Yom Kippur" and "The Day of Atonement" are one and the same.

So, what does a "Jewish holiday" have to do with us, as Christians? Traditionally "the church" has provided little or no Biblical teachings regarding this day. However, my good friend Mr. Webster comes through once again by defining "atonement" as: "The act of atoning. Satisfaction given for wrongdoing, injury, etc. To make amends or expiation. Agreement or reconciliation. The Atonement: The redeeming of mankind and the reconciliation of God with man, brought about by Jesus' sufferings and death." I believe, Christians should learn to recognize and embrace this day as being fundamental to our faith.

Did you notice Webster's New World Dictionary made reference to Jesus and to a Bible passage in Leviticus? Now, we must keep this secret to ourselves or we will soon be faced with radical extremists who will want to ban the use of dictionaries in our schools. The Bible is crystal clear as to when Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement was to be observed. For in Leviticus 23:27 we read, "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the Lord by fire." (Read also devotional article, "Bible Months" to learn more.)

Leviticus 16:1-34; Leviticus 23:26-32; and Numbers 29:7-11 all make reference to "Yom Kippur" or "The Day of Atonement." This was the one day of the year in which the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the Children of Israel. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies alone and sprinkled the blood of a bull and goat upon the Mercy Seat or the Atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant; also known as the Ark of the Testimony.

He also sprinkled blood upon the "Altar of Incense" as we read in Exodus 30:10, "Once a year Aaron [the high priest] shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord."

Yom Kippur should remind us, as Christians, of Easter or Passover. For it was then that our Savior, Jesus, the Christ or Messiah paid for our sins on the cross of Calvary. In Romans 3:21-25 we read, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood."

May we, as Christians, embrace the finished atoning sacrifice of our Messiah, the next time we see "Yom Kippur" listed on our calendars. For Jesus, the Christ, paid the ultimate price once and for all as we read in Hebrews 9:12. I pray that you will find comfort in these words, "He [Jesus] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place [the Holy of Holies] once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." Now, that is the good news of the gospel and a reason to celebrate. Amen.