Does He Still Feel the Nails?

 Well, here I am again. It has been many years since I have written in this Blog, but I woke up rather early this morning hearing "Write It", but as usual, I waited for the urge to pass. While making and drinking my coffee, I heard it again, "Write It". When the Spirit is telling me to do something, He is relentless and although I should know by now that ignoring Him won't make Him go away, I try to fight it until I give in. So, here I am back on Cat's Chat.

At my Tuesday night Ladies Bible Study, we were discussing where we still struggle in our walk with Jesus, most notably our Sin. I shared that while I have made incredible changes in who I am now from who I was "pre" Jesus, I still fall short, multiple times, daily. One thing I shared, was that I often wonder when I sin, Does He still feel the nails? And given today is Good Friday, I understand now why the Spirit kept nudging me. 

Good Friday, marks the day that Jesus Christ went to the cross to reunite us with God through the ultimate sacrifice, His life. We could never live a life worthy of God on our own, so God sent Jesus to live a life without sin on our behalf. Then He suffered the painful death, our sins deserve. John 3:17 says, "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."  Thinking on the fact that Jesus bore the weight of my sins on the cross, has me both euphoric and heartsick. The excitement of Easter and knowing that by His death on the cross and His resurrection, our sins are washed away, can in some ways, become an idea that is somewhat "fluff". We know it, we say it, but do we really get it? Do we ALWAYS remember what that entailed? 

After His conviction, Jesus was flogged, beaten with whips that contained pieces of bone and metal, that tore His flesh with every lash. At any time, Jesus, could have called on a legion of angels to stop this madness, but He didn't. Then, after being tortured, spat upon and mocked, He was nailed to the cross. This is where it gets me...

I can hear the clanging of metal on metal, as the hammer struck the nails, and I hear the anguished cries of pain and I begin to think of my sin. With each strike, I envision, each one of my sins: greed, selfishness, anger, harsh words, apathy, the list goes on and on and I wonder, if today, every time I sin, Does Jesus still feel the nails? Does He feel His flesh tear and His bones break over and over again? What a heartbreaking and sobering thought! How dare I take such an amazing gift of love and sacrifice and continually abuse it! Yes, Jesus' grace and mercy abounds and He is loving and forgiving, but is MY continual sin a way of continual suffering for my Savior? Sadly, I think it is.

I wish I could say these sobering thoughts keep me from sinning, but I know that I will not be sinless until the day I meet Him face to face. What I can say, is that I no longer look at my sin through the "I'm forgiven by the blood of Jesus rose colored glasses" but instead I look at my sin as driving a fresh nail through the very hands that lift me up or a sword piercing the heart of the One who loves me the most. Yes, there is comfort in knowing I am saved by His blood, but there is a sobering determination to be better, and do better, when I think that my sin brings Him pain. 

So ask yourself...Does He still feel the nails every time I sin?

Good Friday, brings the cost of our sin to light. The grace and mercy afforded to us through the death and resurrection is not earned and certainly not deserved, but was freely given out of God's abundant love for us. Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you have accepted this gift of salvation, never take it for granted. If you have not, Jesus waits for you, arms wide open so run into them.

Sunday's Coming!
God Bless!
Cat