Once upon a time God decided to intervene. His world, that He had made for His glory alone, had tragically taken a turn for the worst. His world, that He had made in love, had fallen into sin and brokenness and everything dark. Light seemed only but a mere thought in a far-off place. Did anyone believe anymore? His world, full of people made in His very likeness-His very image-, had chosen Hell rather than the God that gave them life. The people of His world were living against His very will, giving into their flesh and denying His Spirit. People killed. People lied. People stole. People cheated and hated and envied and perversed. They pursued lust, bathed in self-centeredness, rolled in worldly riches, and gave into the darkness that so quickly consumed their very souls. All seemed lost.
But all was not lost, for even though not a single soul deserved it, and even though He had every right to condemn people to their own man-made Hell, God loved. Throughout time, people hit rock-bottom, realizing they wanted the light-realizing they needed the light-and the light shined. The people would be forgiven and given another chance. Those that never sought the light were given over to the darkness, for their hearts had been twisted so much that the original pure creation was gone. Even though many fell away and many returned, one common attribute marked all souls: brokenness. The people were broken-every single one. Like jars of clay spun and created to be beautiful, they had been scuffed and used and beaten. Some even shattered. Hope was seemingly lost-but it was not, for the Potter foresaw hope.
God, acting in love, came to His world in the person of Jesus Christ, and He lived among people. Tempted and tried, He faced every single struggle that the world threw His way, but He did not sway. Jesus Christ lived the perfect life that no other person could live. Was He pretentious, you may ask? Did He come in a showy fashion or call down all of His angels from Heaven in a mighty display of power? Surely, for all of this and more are His rights, especially when existing in a world that He ordained. This is the great irony-Jesus Christ overturned every stigma. He revealed Himself to the people in a way that no man had ever lived, but that is what made Him so great. No man could understand His ways, for His ways were not of man. When God wrote Himself into the story that He originally authored, He rocked the boat of the entire world. Humble and gracious, He lived the life of a servant, proving to be the ultimate example of how people should love each other. He overstepped social boundaries and loved the least of the people. He spent His time with lepers and shared His meals with sinners. God came into the darkness and shined a brightest light-He shined love.
Many were drawn, for who could not be drawn to a light so glorious? Those that got to know Him were transformed, for how could a heart not be changed when touched by the hand of God? Many were drawn, but some were not. The world, being broken and dark, did not understand Him, for they sought selfishness above all else. Those that the darkness had overtaken decided to build up even stronger the walls around their heart, for to admit brokenness was to admit the need for a Savior. They’re hearts were so hardened that their dislike festered into hatred, which then gave birth to death. In their hatred for the light, they murdered the precious Savior-the doctor for the sick, the healer of the weak, and the lover of the souls. He could’ve stopped them. He should’ve condemned them. He chose to love them, because His love had no limits. Even in their sin, Christ died for them.
Hatred ruled. Demons ran rampant. Darkness reigned-for a moment. Seemingly only despair existed, but then bursting forth in glorious day Jesus Christ rose from the grave, for God cannot be overcome by that which He created. His very creatures that He breathed life into could not, even in their darkness, put out the light. He made them all out of goodness and for goodness, and they twisted that goodness into badness. In their own sin, He showed love. In living among the people, He loved the people, in dying for the people, He saved the people, and in being buried He took the sin upon Himself-for His innocent blood was spilled for those that betrayed Him, and there was not a single soul who had not. In rising from the grave He displayed His power and sovereignty, establishing that His kingdom, full of goodness and love and light, would reign forever, because His Presence cannot be defeated. Establishing His power would’ve been enough. Presenting His authority should’ve been the end. God, out of love for His people, proceeded further. In addition to performing the resurrection, He revealed the knowledge of why-why He came to His world, lived among His people, and allowed His perfect being to be brutally killed. God did all of this because He loved. God loved His people-even when they did not love Him. His kingdom was not just for Himself, but it was for all that accepted the invitation. What was the catch? What was required of His guests? Only this: to accept. God gave the most precious of gifts: eternal life with Him in the original goodness that existed, for every man, woman, and child who simply wanted it. God not only invited His people to live with Him, but He decided to make the reunion one to look forward to! Planning and preparing, God promised to return to the world to bring all of His people who would accept His love back home with Him, where they all would live in love with their One True God. Until then, the people would wait, and though they still lived in a broken world, many of them would live differently, because when Jesus departed His people, He gave them a reminder of His Presence-a very part of Himself-that would reside inside of them, taking up a permanent residence to mark them with His holy seal, so that the world would know who they belonged to. Until their King returned, they would fight a battle of spiritual warfare, because now they knew: they were fighting behind enemy lines. They were fighting for righteousness in a world consumed by hopelessness. They were fighting for love in a world covered with hate. They were living in humility in a world full of people who strived to put themselves first. They were living under grace in a world that did no such thing. It was not easy, but they knew this one truth: if it were easy, everyone would do it. That’s what made it so beautiful.
If you feel like the world around you is weighing down heavy on your shoulders, if you know that you have chosen darkness rather than light, and if you know that you are sick-that something inside your very soul is longing for something more-then I encourage you: take heart. There is a healer. There is a hope. There is a Savior who longs to love you and who is waiting with open arms for you to run straight into His embrace. He has been there since the beginning of it all, arms open wide, and all you have to do is rush into them. He loves you. Please don’t miss it, and don’t miss this: I can tell you all about my likes and dislikes. I can explain what I’m interested in and what makes me smile. I can describe all of this and more, but none of it matters as far as where my identity is found. There is only one title that accurately describes me, and it is the only one I care about you knowing: beautifully broken. I am broken. I am sick inside. I am messy. I am a weary sinner in need of grace, and I have been loved by the only one authorized to give it. In Jesus, I am redeemed. I am set free. I am well! He has literally changed my life, and I want Him to change yours, too.
