The Encourager – Wounds that Heal

A few weeks ago, I was doing some heavy yard work in the heat. When I came inside, I discovered a wound in my forearm. Eager to jump in the shower, I didn’t give it much thought. The next day I started applying a prescription ointment I had used for a previous skin issue. I figured the steroid would take care of the problem in a few days. As the weeks passed, I kept applying more ointment and bandages. It looked different than past wounds, so I couldn’t tell if it was a bite from a mosquito, spider, or stinging insect. With other challenges going on in my life, I didn’t obsess over this minor injury.

Yesterday, a full two months later, I started wondering why the improvement was so slow. The external layer looked much better, but there seemed to be a lump underneath, so I thought maybe it was a stinger that I should try to remove. When I got it out, it was thick and fibrous, not from an insect. It turned out to be a fairly large splinter!

Meanwhile, during this same time period, the Lord has been convicting me of serious sin. As sometimes happens, He used a friend to point it out. It’s a sin I’ve been aware of for decades, but it’s not easily fixed (believe me, I’ve been trying!). Although it’s sad to realize that one of my besetting sins continues to hurt people, this is one of the ways we help one another in the Body of Christ. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” – Proverbs 27:6. In close Christian friendships, on occasion we may humbly, gently, and prayerfully correct one another, from a loving heart. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1 NIV. I value these deeper friendships. There may be pain as we repeatedly encounter (and forgive) one another’s besetting sins, but there is growth in holiness that can’t be found on our own.

It turns out that when something gets brought to my attention by a faithful friend (especially when they bring in Scripture), I become more aware. The Holy Spirit speaks through our brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s so easy to gloss over my sin while I’m busy “serving the Lord” in my own way. Do you see the irony? I may look okay on the surface, but I can’t just put a bandaid on my sin. The root of sin must be examined and identified properly, then removed. Yesterday, when I dug out my splinter with a sharp needle, there was blood. But I expected that: this was blood designed to carry out impurities from the splinter which had caused an infection. That splinter was lodged in my arm for two months! Just think how much more quickly it might have healed if I had removed it on that first day!

As some of you know, I have struggled with depression for many years. In addition to other causes, I get depressed about my own sin. It just seems overwhelming at times, and I feel I will never see victory! I bet Satan loves it when I get depressed about sin. I could be rightly experiencing the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which in itself is a good thing, but the enemy wants me to stop right there! The enemy rejoices when I lie awake at night regretting my many failures. The apostle Paul tells of the exact same feeling in Romans 7. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” But Paul goes on to remind himself of gospel truth: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:24-25.

The efficacious wounds of Christ have taken away all the awful consequences of my mistakes, thoughtless errors, failures, and sins. He paid the piercing penalty for my rebellious pride. Nailed to a cross made of the same material as my splinter, Jesus bled from many grievous wounds all over His body. Despite all the painful physical wounds, the relational wound of separation from the Father was far worse. But His blood has washed me clean. Hallelujah! NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST! Now He sits right next to the Father praying for ME! I am so thankful to God for the wounds that heal. Faithful are the wounds of my Best Friend, Jesus Christ. Thank You, Lord, for forgiving my sin!

Thanks be to God!
God is faithful,
j