Visible Scars

Today I was painting over some seriously retro loveseats that I got for free. There was this gold metallic stripe of double-sided sticky tape that needed to be removed before I could paint. I got it off as best as I could, but there was still a sticky stripe of residue. I put two coats of paint on and it really isn't noticeable, unless you are looking for it. Unless you knew it was there before. As I was painting, my mind flashed to the Soul Scars talk that Pastor Guy did awhile ago. God will heal us, but we will always have a scar. Nothing to brag about or point out, but there will be a line where He has joined Himself to us. We shouldn't necessarily try to cover it up, just acknowledge an amazing thing that has been done for us. When I look at my not-so-ugly anymore loveseats, I won't mind seeing the stripes under the paint. I will see a transformation that has taken place. When I look in the mirror, I still see the person I was five, ten years ago. But I also see the transformation that is taking place. One day at a time. Not gonna glorify the scars, but they are still visible under the new whitewashed coat of paint. And that is only to give all the glory to God. If you don't have a "Before", the "After" isn't so amazing.

I wrote the above immediately after my last post, but wasn't ready to share it. Spending some time in the Word last night, God showed me Isaiah 44:21-22, and it seemed to sum up how I was feeling.
"Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me for I have redeemed you."