[FamilyofGod] The Folded Page
The Folded Page
As I opened my Bible to the section of Scripture I had been reading before the interruption, I noticed that I had carelessly allowed the page to fold over leaving a huge ugly wrinkle on that page in my bible. It was not a small corner fold, but an ugly, uneven fold with creases in two or three places. The page would never be the same. No matter how many times I try to close my Bible and press the wrinkle smooth, when I open it to that page, the reminder of my carelessness will be there.
Many would pass this off as no big deal. Maybe I should as well. However, for this self-admitting neat-nick, the wrinkled page has become a painful reminder of my carelessness. I've also let it become a reminder of the impact that sin can have in our lives -- even those sins I might label as "small sins." Sin and its painful residue have a way of staying with us, even when the sin is not our own.
She is married and has grown children of her own, but every time she looks in the mirror she sees something no one else ever sees. She sees the scar. It's the scar she keeps covered with make-up. Each time she see the scar she relives the pain of her father's drunken rage when she was just a little girl.
He is in his fifties, and by most accounts would be considered a success. He has a good job. He is respected by many in the community. However, in his own mind it is never good enough. He can never work enough hours. His check is never fat enough. He cannot climb the ladder fast enough. Not matter how hard he tries, he cannot erase the words spoken so long ago: "You will never amount to anything!"
They have been married for thirty years. They are seen by others as the ideal couple. They do have a good marriage. They have worked hard to forgive and forget. Still there are times when that one event enters the conversation and tempers flair, hurtful words are spoken, and a little of the joy seeps out of their relationship.
The doctor tries to comfort the family as he explains, "We did everything possible for your daughter." Those words do little to ease the suffering of this mom and dad as they must come to terms with the results of her one foolish attempt to be part of the crowd.
The page in my Bible will probably never be the same. It will always remind me of my carelessness. Of course, I can live with the wrinkled page. These deeper wrinkles -- these scars of our hearts that are there because of sins we have committed or because of sins committed against us or because of the thoughtless acts of those we love -- are more difficult to live with. For these wrinkles on our heart, we need more. We need the reminder of God's concern for our pain, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted." (Psalm 34:18) We need a refresher on being renewed in our walk with God in ways that take care of the stain of our sin and purify us through and through. (Psalm 51) We need the assurance of knowing that we have a very forgiving God and a Savior who paid for our sins. (1 John 1:5-2:2)
I really do not have a solution for those pages in your Bible that have accidentally gotten folded and wrinkled. I do have a solution for the heart that is broken and scarred: Jesus. He is the Savior of the world, the forgiver of our sins, and he healer of our hearts. Give Him your broken heart. Let Him straighten out the wrinkles. Allow Him to heal your hurts. He can handle all your folded pages!
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
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