Friday, February 16, 2007

Injuries and scars

One of my favorite bloggers, Mike Cope, voiced what many people are thinking: did Anna Nicole Smith have any idea how much God loved her? We all watched her self-destruct in front of our eyes for years. She was the focus of many things -- the paparazzi, reality tv, and porn addicts to name a few -- but did anyone ever focus God's love on her? My heart hurts for her emptiness and for the life that lies ahead for her newborn daughter. I know what emptiness feels like.

I'm not sure why, but her situation reminded me of a thought I had a few years ago. It dawned on me that Jesus kept some -- not all -- but some of the scars from his brutal death. Why did he do that? When we think of our glorified body, we envision a perfect body. No flaws, no scars. Why did Jesus keep the ones he did? Was it just for us? Because he knew we would need proof? Maybe it was just because he knew Thomas would need proof. Like everything else, it was for us.

What if you could keep a scar? What if a part of your glorified body included a scar from your physical life. What would you keep? Why would you keep it? Can you hear the conversations in heaven?

"Look, see this? These are the scars from being beaten as a child. I cried myself to sleep every night, but I was crying out to God. That's when I learned that I had a heavenly Father."

"This scar? Oh, I was lost in drugs and alcohol and I was in a car accident. Everyone else was killed, but I lived. In rehab I learned that Jesus died for me and that everything -- everything -- had been forgiven. Even though I caused someone else's death, I was forgiven by Jesus' death."

"Oh, this? I used to cut myself when I got angry or depressed. I didn't know that Jesus' blood had already made up for all my shortcomings. "

Or maybe we don't have to wait until heaven to share our scars with people. Maybe if we admitted that deep inside we're all an Anna Nicole Smith waiting to happen, then we could keep a few people from winding up with such tragic lives. Our injures could keep other people from experiencing such pain.

John Newton's last words were said to be: "My memory is failing, but I remember two things: I am a great sinner, and God is a great savior."


7 comments:

Sugar-n-Spice said...

i didn't know you had a blogspot! how wonderful! and what a beautiful post today...i LOVED reading it, and scanning your blog. miss ya!

Sugar-n-Spice said...

we bought the first house past the baptist home on the left. LOVE it...after living in a rent house for awhile, anything is GREAT! we have more room, and can paint whatever we want to. :) kids are all better...FINALLY! will link ya and comment often now that i know you're out there!

Melissa Stover said...

i found your blog through brandy's comments. i saw your avatar photo of your lovely family and wanted to check it out. i'm a friend of brandy's. i love finding other bloggers from arkansas.

McDreamy said...

ooh, ooh, ooh! i'm so glad you commented - i now know where you are! and will link you soon. i loved this post will be back to look through some old ones. i, also, loved seeing your family in the pic. makes me miss your fam, particularly those girls that i could SO pay to help right now!! ;) i'm so excited to keep up with you again!

T J said...

I am thoroughly challenged by that. I know I have many scars and thorns as Paul put it. I never thought about Jesus keeping His. I have just been counting the days when I would get rid of mine. Makes ya think....

T J said...

hey...thanks for the insight...and the resource...i'll have to see if our library (ha, ha, ha) has it.

Shelley said...

wow, that's material for our 15 min devotional at church during the opening!
You are a very talented writer, look forward to reading more.