Scars

There are more extensive scars from self-inflicted trauma like a knife cut while preparing food—symmetrical scars from surgery like an appendix, or knees, or shoulder surgery. There are disfigurements like playing with matches as a child. As we grow older, we collect them. Physical scars may make us less attractive but not less human.

Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

As Christians, we look at our transgression as not something that pains God, but as a spiritual scar. We have small ones from white lies that didn’t hurt anyone. We have more obvious ones because we wanted to get out of a situation. Maybe a symmetrical scar or two from intentional deception to achieve the desired result. There are the prominent scars that result from not just a moral misstep, but maybe a legal misstep. In Christian life, these make us less attractive but not less saved.

Just like in life, some people are proud of their scars. They tell the story of their life and how they have overcome adversity. Some people try to hide their scars because they are ashamed or want to look more attractive. Each scar has a story, the small ones we forget, the big ones we can’t forget. Polite people do not ask about scars; they let you bring up the subject.

I have a lot of physical scars. When I fill out the intake form for the doctor’s office, I ask for a second page. Early in my life, my body was just a containment device for muscle and bone. I lived with abandon. Ruptured discs, torn cartilage, cuts, broken bones were all part of living life. I know a lot of them personally because they talk to me every day. They have come back to haunt me in my later years. So does sin.

James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”

When we come to the point in life that we start taking God seriously, we remember the scars. We recognized the times when we grieved God. Each scar causes us pain. We cannot go back in time and have a “do-over”. Our transgressions are part of who we are. If we, and I include me in this, were wiser, we would have fewer scars to deal with, but we weren’t. Just like the scars in life, we are going to have to deal with them, face up to them, recognize their existence. With sin, we need to seek repentance and move on.

When we accepted Christ as our personal savior, it would have been nice to have an objective of a perfect life. No scars or transgression to mar our otherwise ideal salvation. But we didn’t.

Hebrews 10:17, “Then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’”

Just as there are Plastic Surgeons that will remove the evidence of past physical trauma, we have a Lord that will erase the evidence of spiritual trauma. Unlike the Plastic Surgeon, Christ will not just cover the evidence of the injury, He will make us a new person, removing all evidence of our old self.

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

We have been made perfect in Him. Now, what do you want to do about it?

Colossians 4: 5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one”