The saved
of soul,
Who recognise
the hole,
To that
which they may cling,
Are
astoundingly saved,
Their
salvation road’s paved,
As acquitted they can certainly
sing.
***
The paradox of the saved is an
enigma, especially for those grappling with God. How can one person be so
broken and, yet, be at peace? How do two realities that seem so diametrically
opposed hang in suspension as truths in one person’s life?
These two realities—of
comprehensive brokenness, yet acquittal at the hand of Jesus—meld together in
the life of the saved Christian.
They have both nothing and
everything—their brokenness seems unusable, but it is what actually qualifies
them to be of use. Their brokenness is not shameful but reason for celebration.
God uses our worst to make us our best.
Qualities For Acquittal
The qualities of acquittal are
paradoxical; secular humanity cannot understand it.
To be saved by Jesus, as a
one-for-all-time event and in our very present moments (because we always need
saving), we need to be aware of and accept our brokenness and surrender it
before the throne of Jesus.
Where there is no brokenness there
can be no salvation.
Where there is no identification
as a sinner there is no need of salvation.
To beseech our Lord for acquittal
has brokenness as its condition.
These are simple things, but they
are incredibly complex to the heart foreign to the proximity of their brokenness.
They cannot be understood without staring with honesty into the face of the
soul. Only in honesty, recognising who we are from who we have been and who we
are becoming, can we see our abject need of God.
Only With Brokenness Is Power
Upon this swings the whole power
of the Christian witness. Only within the vestiges of brokenness is there the
Spirit’s power. Only when we recognise our need of God do we usually also see
others’ need of God. Only when we’re devoid of ourselves, of our pride and
self-sufficiency, are we of true value through the power of God.
Brokenness is the beginning. It’s
where the power of God exists.
An unashamed recognition of our
brokenness, at truth, is seeing ourselves in the world as we should be seeing
ourselves in the world. This is because we can only be unashamed knowing that
God had, and has, a purpose in our brokenness.
In knowing these things is power;
but a power so foreign to our world and to our flesh.
***
Brokenness is truly the beginning
in knowing God. Only from brokenness is there acquittal—the forgiveness of sins.
And the broken have won the secret to life. From brokenness is genuine power.
It must be lived to be believed.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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