True Love

It was the shoes that I remember. Piles upon piles of shoes no longer needed by their murdered owners. Our tour of the Holocaust museum in Israel fell right after our tour of Golgotha and the empty tomb. The reality of what God’s love cost Him had never looked rawer than it did to me at that moment.

The ugliness of sin was no longer relegated to the fiends following Hitler’s commands. It was not just defined by the worst of the worst in my own heart. As I looked at the gaping mouth of Golgotha, and then at those shoes, I recognized that the blood of Jesus had to cover all sin. His blood was shed to cover the sins of murderers; it was shed for the little white lie. He was whipped mercilessly for the adulterer; He was stripped naked for the gossiper. For the lesbian, the pervert, the extortioner, the drunkard, the ungrateful, the proud, the religious; every drop of His blood pooled beneath the cross for us.

There were those who scorned Him and mocked Him while He drew up for each agonizing breath, just as there are those now who only speak His name as a curse word. His blood was still shed for those who go to their grave cursing His name. He held nothing back, even for those that He knew would reject Him.

It is only by the mercy of a God who defines love that any of us could be saved from the hideous, putrid stench of sin. Christians are often noted for what we stand for, but how often are we seen on our knees pleading that others might find the mercy we enjoy daily? How many of us are on our faces weeping for those who do not yet know the greatest love we could possibly know?

Before we share another rant to an echo chamber that applauds our stand, pray for the lost. Ask God for the compassionate heart that cost His own Son every last drop of blood.

And if you think you are somehow deserving of the gift of salvation, recognize that not one of us is forgiven because we are good people. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. stand desperately in need of the precious blood of Jesus.

If you have not received the gift of salvation that God extends to every soul who recognizes their own sinfulness; all you must do is ask Him to save you. His blood already purchased your rescue from the wages that sin requires. The transaction is finished. All you must do is ask.

“Jesus, I know that my sin put you on that cross. Please forgive me. I accept the gift of salvation you offer to me. I invite you to come into my life and live within me. Amen.”

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends!

Erica B.