"Lord, thank you for saving me from the grave... and the scars of life."

At the age of 13, I gave my life to Jesus. But my heart was a messy place. I continued to make many mistakes in my life. But Jesus never gave up on me. The Bible says He loved me and gave Himself for me  “...that He might make [me] holy, cleansing [me] by the washing with water through the Word." - Ephesians 5:25-26  My heart was His, but it was His Word that cleansed me, washing and scrubbing the interior of my mind.

I can't help but think of the story of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. They cried out begging for deliverance from their "hell on earth." Jesus said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.  - Luke 17:11-14

The leper's oozing and painful sores dried up at His Word as they obeyed His instruction. They must have felt it instantaneously - no longer the same. But the scars of their former condition would remain. Yet in many ways, their scars would always be a testimony of God's love and mercy.  It's one thing to have outer pain, but it's often the pain inside that causes the most misery. I can't say for sure, but it seems to me this man turned to thank Jesus for reasons greater than outer scars. And in another amazing act of mercy, Jesus said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole." - Luke 17:19

In my own life, with each revelation of Jesus, my scars were removed too. To be perfectly frank - it took a long time and even today they jump up in my life from time to time. If I were to tell stories of my life, people who know me would have a hard time believing them. When Jesus changes a person, He makes them "a new creation, old things having passed away, all things having become new."  - 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness."  - 1 John 1:9

The scars of sin are erased by Jesus when we humble ourselves, admit our sins, and trust in Him for forgiveness. And if that's not amazing enough, when we yield completely to Him and learn His ways, He says, "Arise and go show yourself..." Jesus won't let us stay under a cloak of guilt and condemnation.  Scars can be used as a testimony that bring God glory. May He be glorified in us.