Many devout Muslims over the course of Ramadan, will be focused on becoming holier people in order to bring Allah’s blessings. This they do through the sacrifice of fasting and prayer. It is a very commendable endeavour, but it will fail as it is built upon a wrong premise concerning our human nature.

Whether you are a Muslim or not, you no doubt know people who are religious, and I am sure you have witnessed hypocrisy. Perhaps, if you are honest, like me you would admit to that very hypocrisy in your own life. It is not always intentional, but what we try to be religiously is often at odds with who we are naturally.

The problem with religion in general, and the goal of Ramadan in particular, is that it either conveniently ignores human nature, or foolishly thinks that by performing some specified ritual the human nature will be changed. The result of this religious activity is therefore either a foolish pride in what we have achieved (when we are essentially just the same as before we started), or an honest disillusionment with the whole religious process.

If the latter describes you, let me give you the answer in three words:

“Looking unto Jesus”

Hebrews 12 v 2 (The Bible)

God’s revelation to us in the book of Hebrews has one goal. It is to show us that the Lord Jesus Christ stands head and shoulders above all others. The key word in the book is the word ‘better‘. We are told that Jesus Christ is ‘better than’ angels (ch.1); ‘better than’ the prophet Moses (ch.3); ‘better than’ the high priest Aaron (ch.5); ‘better than’ the Old Covenant (ch.8); ‘better than’ the sacrifices of men (ch.10).

This last point is pertinent to our discussion, for it is the effort expended in our ritualistic sacrifices for no discernible result that is the cause of our discouragement. Here is the hope of something ‘better than’ what we can offer; the answer we are looking for. The reason that Jesus Christ offers such hope is given to us right at the start of the book:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Hebrews 1 v 1-3

The reason that the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to our problem, is that He is the full revelation God the Creator incarnate – that is, come in human flesh to redeem us ‘by the sacrifice of Himself‘ (Hebrews 9 v 26), and re-create us anew for His glory.

For clarification, this does not mean that when Jesus Christ died on the cross there was no God ruling over the universe. Only an inadequate view of God would lead to this conclusion. Our Bible tells us that the triune God is capable of remaining on the heavenly throne while at the same time descending from the throne in order to save you and I.

I trust this brings you much hope and encouragement, for it means we no longer need to slave away in religious devotion, pointlessly whitewashing the tomb. Rather, we need to give up the trying, and simply ‘by faith’ (ch.11) look ‘unto Jesus’ – the only One who can cleanse us from sin; make us holy in God’s sight; and bring us into the eternal care and blessing of God the Father.