Sin and the Hope of Heaven
Week Fourteen
March 30, 2025
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— so he will sprinkle many nations …
— Isaiah 52:14,15a (NIV)
Let’s take a moment and travel back to the garden, to beauty in all its perfection — man and woman in the image of God, unmarred, unspoiled, a perfect resemblance of their Creator and living in simple innocence. Man with God, God with man. Now (sorry for this) let me ask you to leave the epitome of idyllic perfection and fast forward to our day, many millennia passed, sin given sufficient time to run its ruinous course. What do you see? May I suggest that what you are seeing is a “less than” — a corruption of creation and an erosion of the glorious image of those created in his likeness?
And that is what sin does — it mars us.
Merriam-Webster defines the verb mar as, “to ruin or diminish the perfection or wholeness of: SPOIL”. Our sin-nature, compounded with our continual sinning, has marred us beyond recognition; the garden and the glory are gone. Our visage has been disfigured and because of sin’s corruption we are left searching for all manner of external beauty in the hope of bringing back what once was the pinnacle of paradisal perfection. But our efforts have fallen short.
This is where the message of the Gospel brings us hope!
You may have seen the movie, The Passion of the Christ. There is a strong depiction in this film of what it might look like for a person to be marred beyond human recognition. This graphical portrayal of Christ may help us to better grasp what he suffered because of our sin. It may help us to see the high price that had to be paid for our rebellion against God. And if we allow it to, we may see the allusion to our own marring – the corruption of our once glorious image and the infection of every part of our being. But ultimately what is important for us to see and understand is that the one who knew no sin became sin for our sake, taking our sin upon himself in exchange for his righteousness – Jesus was marred to remove that which marred us.
But the Gospel story doesn’t end at the cross! Just as Jesus brought the light of life to many while he walked among us, the resurrected Jesus, by his Spirit, now enables us today to walk in newness of life. Our corruption has been traded for his perfection. We are made complete, seated in heavenly places with him – no more “less than”.
Our heavenly home, our hope’s destination, is not just Eden 2.0. The age of Eden has passed just as the age of the kingdoms of men will soon pass. Old things will have passed away and all things will be made new. In the ages to come, the rich thread of grace will weave its way through eternity, put on display for all to see – a glorious, praiseworthy, immeasurable treasure. This grace, given to us from the kind heart of God the Father through Christ Jesus, is what saved us and what keeps us, and will be the grace brought to us on that day for entrance into the eternal pleasures at God’s right hand in the beauty of Jesus, the joy of man’s desiring. Sin will never again mar us.
Monday
March 31, 2025
They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
— Psalm 53:3 (ESV)
The human race walks together in shared corruption. This may be a hard truth to accept. But there is hope for the one brave enough to admit their need for rescue. Sin, like the salty ocean air on a beautiful beach house, has corroded our visage. We are sinners who need a Savior. And here is hope — even in our tendency to hold a generous self-view, God graciously illuminates our rusted self-righteousness and holds out the hope of true righteousness in the gift of his Son.
“No one who does good”, do you agree with this statement? How would you define good? How do you think God defines good?
From what has humanity fallen away? What is our only hope of restoration from this fallen state?
Tuesday
April 1, 2025
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
— John 1:4 (ESV)
Jesus brought light to our dimmed vision by showing us what real life looks like. From the bright regions of eternity, his life pierced the membrane of space and time, letting the light of heaven pour into our darkness. What does real life look like – life untouched by the depleting effects of sin, life marked by endless resource shared without stinginess or restraint? We carry within ourselves a deep sense that we don’t have enough, that we’re going to run out. Jesus never did. He carried within himself the well of life eternal – an unending supply. And he offers this to you, daily. Drink deep.
Do you ever feel beyond your ability to handle the day’s challenges? Have you ever felt the light of his life, dim as it may have seemed, in those days?
Can you think of a story in the gospels where Jesus brought light into a darkened life? What was the result?
Wednesday
April 2, 2025
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
— Matthew 8:3 (NIV)
Two things that have the power to raise the level of a sense of dignity in a person’s life are touch and affirmation. Physical touch says, you are not dirty and I am not afraid of who you are — in fact, I embrace it. Affirmation, a strong and firm “yes”, says, your need is important — not only to you, but to me as well. A simple touch, a willing heart; Jesus bore both. And Jesus not only raised the level of human dignity, he also raised us. And that’s the important part. We have been lifted to new life by the touch and “yes” of Jesus.
In what areas of your life could you use a “lift” in your sense of dignity? What makes you feel treasured or valuable?
Who is a person in your life who has made you feel valued? If possible, reach out to them and thank them. If not possible, thank God for them.
Thursday
April 3, 2025
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
— 1 Peter 2:24 (NET)
Charles Wesley, the great 18th century hymn writer, wrote,
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Our healing from the ravages of sin comes from the marring of Jesus’ holy visage. He was wounded for our healing. We’ve gained a share, become a part, by the wounds of our Savior. Our Shepherd has proved his love for us by laying down his life for us and has gathered us near by the flow of his own precious blood.
What type of healing has God provided that surpasses any physical restoration? What healing has been brought to us by the blood shed from his wounds?
How does it impact you to know that Christ – God robed in flesh – did not send someone else to die in your stead, but came himself to die for you? Could there have been any other way?
Friday
April 4, 2025
Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul …
— 1 Peter 2:11 (NET)
Peter writes these words in the light of who we now are. And considering the future glory we shall enjoy, those of us near and dear to God’s heart do well to heed Peter’s Spirit-inspired instruction. His exhortation is simple: sin corrodes the soul like the ocean’s salty air eats away at a freshly painted beach house. But we have the hope of strength in our battle against sin — by the Spirit’s help we put to death our daily sinful tendencies and live.
When Peter refers to the soul, which part of us is he referring to? How does sin affect your desires, affections, feelings, and aversions?
What does scripture say about our souls being restored? What part does the great Shepherd of our souls play in that restoration?