The sixty-five-year-old oak table was distressed in a way that depicted use—depicted life. One leg lurched from a long-ago break, steadied now by a flat stone tucked beneath it. Burn marks, water rings, scratches, scars, and discoloration covered its surface. And yet, beneath the browns, grays, and charcoal shadows of use and misuse, a hint of the original golden oak still peeked through.
Then, with one flowing movement, the surface of this distressed oak table was veiled with a pristine white table cloth. With small adjustments here and there, the flowing, white linen fabric fell to the floor to completely veil the exposed splotches, smudges and wounds of a life full of use.
If you had not seen the table before the tablecloth was placed on it, you would never imagine that it was imperfect and scarred in some places or that it was being held level by a sturdy stone.
My life feels like that table at times. Throughout the past sixty five years of life, I have seen my share of bumps, bruises, brokenness, mistakes, and regrets. I think it is the regrets that leave the biggest scars.
The evil one attempts to use those regrets against me and tell me that my poor decisions and past mistakes disqualify me from having a voice to share the amazingness of my God. In those moments when doubt creeps in, and I feel unworthy of the platform that allows me to share about a holy God, I step back and remember that I am fully cloaked in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
When my God looks at me, it is not those past regrets, that I would prefer would remain hidden, that He sees. Since I have turned my life over to Jesus, I am like that battered, broken, oak table that is covered in a pristine, white tablecloth. God sees the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus that completely covers my human brokenness.
This perfect sacrifice is evidenced beginning in Ephesians chapter one.
The apostle Paul spells out this message to the believers at Ephesus. In Ephesians 1:7, he reminds them that their redemption comes from the sacrifice of Jesus. Through His blood and the riches of His grace, they received forgiveness of sins.
That same forgiveness of sin is still available to us today. It drapes us in a spotless, pristine white covering. This covering is what God sees, not our sin underneath.
The challenge of this verse for those that follow Christ Jesus could be to never forget that our sin is covered through His sacrifice. While, at the same time, we must always remember the cost of that sacrifice and that without God’s grace, not one of us could be saved.
To apply this scripture to our lives might mean that we accept the forgiveness that Christ has provided. We sometimes allow ourselves to get weighed down with and haunted by memories of old sins. Learn from them, use this experience when necessary, but let them go. God has placed them as far as the east is from the west.
My faith is strengthened when I read in God’s word that my bumps, bruises, brokenness, mistakes, and regrets are covered by the perfect sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, thank you for taking my brokenness and making me acceptable in your site. I realize that it is not me that is acceptable, but the sacrifice of your Son that covers my imperfections. You make me beautiful and you make me whole. I am so thankful that the parts of me that are still a little broken are covered in pure white and the ones that are still a little weak are being held up by the Rock of Ages.
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Scripture Reference:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
Cross-Reference Scripture(s):
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14 (KJV)
“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption.” Psalm 130:7 (KJV)
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about Jesus Christ and hope He can change your eternity: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Blog Image by Cully Wakelin from Pixabay
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 