Dear Family and Friends,

As 2021 comes to a close, let’s spend our time talking about scars. 

Why scars? Because we all carry scars picked up along the rugged road of life. The scars I’m referring to may be from a physical experience. Or an emotional one that perhaps left us sad, mad or depressed. 

They may be scars from the past – old but hardly forgotten. Or perhaps you have scars so fresh they are still healing. I know that many of us suffered through a painful 2021. 

Regardless of age, would you agree that scars can be painful reminders of past hurts?

Only a few people know this about me – I have an unusual scar on my left thumb. One that also happens to be a constant reminder of the biggest lie I ever told my mom. (Notice I said biggest, not only?)

Back in the day, milkmen used to go into homes to deliver milk right to our refrigerators and pick up empty bottles. I liked our milkman and would often sneak and ride up and down the street with him.

Then one fateful day, it started to rain. And in rushing to close the door, I crushed my left thumb. 

It was so bad, I lost the nail and a lot of blood. But the pain didn’t end there. I still had to tell my mom what happened. She had warned me many times before to stop riding the milk truck because it was dangerous.

To avoid the wrath, I made up a story of falling off my bike. Which by the way, got me a lot of sympathy – – until the following week when the milkman came over, apologized and explained to my mom what had really happened.

I was left with two scars and a lifelong lesson that day. 

My scar is nothing like the ones Paul collected in his quest to spread the Gospel. “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-25 NIV

Paul also mentioned his scars in Galatians 6:17 NLT, but in a different way. “For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.”

The Greek word Paul used for scar or mark was stigma, a brand burned into the skin of slaves, proof they belonged to a particular owner. 

Did Paul see his scars as painful reminders of the past? No, Paul bragged that the marks showed proof he belonged to Christ Jesus.

He was proud of them. 

Another set of scars we are familiar with belonged to Jesus. In this dialog with the disciple Thomas, Jesus used His scars to make a point, not only to Thomas but to us as well. 

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29 NIV

The experiences of Paul and Jesus show how God deals with scars and painful memories.

God redeems the works of evil. He releases us from the pain, restores us, and then blesses us with His peace. 

He redeems our experiences by giving them meaning and purpose, and then uses them for good.

The scars of Paul and Jesus were not painful reminders of the past. They instead gave hope and glorified God.

As this year comes to a close, can we be encouraged by Paul and Jesus? The redemptive nature of God is available to us as well.

We worship a God who understands us, who feels our pain, who longs for our well being. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 NIV

Can we keep all the good things that happened this year close to our hearts as we express our gratefulness to God?

And can we ask God to redeem all the scars we carry, those of this past year and of the past? 

Let’s hang on to this promise Jesus once told His disciples, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 NIV

As we close this message and this year, I sincerely wish that you be filled with Joy and Peace, and that you find Hope in these lyrics from a recently released song by Casting Crowns called Scars in Heaven. 

The only scars in heaven, they won’t belong to me and you
There’ll be no such thing as broken and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in heaven are on the hands that hold you now

In love always,