Scars

Look down at your hands, your knees... or maybe when you look in the mirror you are reminded of an event that marked you for life. The marks I am referring to are your scars. When I look in the mirror, very closely, I see the evidence of an event that seems like a lifetime ago. I was a passenger in a head-on collision that sent my face into the windshield. Later there was a lawsuit in which a lawyer told me I could counter-sue for disfigurement. I told him, "No thanks, when I get turned down for that modeling contract due to my facial scars, I'll consider it." I just live with the scars and most people don't even notice them. But when I see them, I am reminded of God's mercy and protection. Perhaps you have scars that don't appear on the outside, on your skin. Maybe you have deep wounds in your heart from recent or past hurts. Abuse, disappointments, neglect, broken relationships, sinful living, bad choices, or abandonment. The list goes on and on with the things in life that leave scars from our past. It's easy and very common for us to get wrapped up in these hurts and wear them on the outside... defining who we are. But we don't have to. We can be healed. Redeemed. We can learn this truth of redemption, of restoration through God's everlasting compassion on His children of Zion (or Jerusalem). "The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing." Isaiah 51:3 This verse from the prophet Isaiah comes from the stormy period during the decline of the kingdom of Israel. There are many warnings to God's people for persistent sinful living. But, Isaiah doesn't simply warn, he also instructs in the hope for deliverance - for escape... God's intervention. We find rich comfort and hope as Isaiah foretells God's deliverance of his children from their captors and prefigures the greater deliverance from sin through Christ. "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4: 22-24 When we know Jesus, we can actually find beauty in our scars... even give thanks for them because of the "new self" they made us into. They help us to remember that we've been healed (or can be healed). That our merciful, loving Father is more powerful than any hurt or sin or destruction that people can dish out. Scars keep us on our knees in humility, submitting to the awesome, saving power of Jesus' selfless sacrifice on the cross. Just look at what the scars on Jesus' body accomplished for each one of us. Salvation from sin and eternal life in heaven. Heal The Wound by Point of Grace paints this picture beautifully. Here's a link to their song on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB0Yh_HS19I - - I guess with the limitations I'm experiencing in this program, you have to go to YouTube on your browser and copy and paste the link in YouTube's search. Sorry about that... and sorry about any possible unholy links that you may see in the process. What can I say, we live in a corrupt world. Our Heavenly Father heals our wounds with His love and compassion. He makes our deserts like Eden and our wastelands like His garden. We are left with the scars to keep us mindful of our need, our dependence on His loving grace. Then we can see His truth and purpose in our lives. That allows us to give thanks and sing praises to the One and Only God of Hope. Jesus Christ. "And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b