The Heart of Christ: A Sanctuary for Sinners and Sufferers
In the midst of our darkest moments, when sin and shame seem to suffocate us, it’s easy to wonder if God has abandoned us. But the Bible tells a different story. In Romans 5:20-21, we find that where sin increases, God’s grace abounds all the more. This is not just a theoretical concept; it’s a lived reality for those who belong to Christ.
A Heart of Tender Love
Christ’s heart is not repelled by our sin; rather, it is drawn to us in our brokenness. His holiness is not mutually exclusive with our sinfulness. Instead, it is precisely his holiness that makes him aware of the horror and weight of sin, and it is this same holiness that draws his heart out to help, relieve, protect, and comfort us.
The Distinction Between Those In and Out of Christ
For those outside of Christ, sin evokes holy wrath. But for those who belong to him, sin evokes holy longing, holy love, and holy tenderness. It is not our loveliness that wins his love; it is our unloveliness. This is a profound mystery that challenges our natural understanding of how the world works.
The Floodgates of Compassion
When we sin, the floodgates of God’s compassion open wide. The dam breaks, and his heart of love pours out towards us. This is not just a sentimental notion; it is a fundamental aspect of God’s character. Our hearts may struggle to comprehend this, but we must bow in humble submission and let God set the terms by which he will love us.
Coming to Jesus in Our Brokenness
We don’t need to clean ourselves up or collect our thoughts before coming to Jesus. Our very burden is what qualifies us to come. We can approach him in our anguish, perplexity, and sinfulness, knowing that we are going with the flow of his own deepest wishes, not against them. Jesus gets down with us, puts his arm around us, and deals with us in the way that is just what we need.
His Ways Are Not Our Ways
Jesus is not like us. His love is not an echo of human love; it is the cascading abundance of heaven. His ways are not our ways, and his heart is not like ours. But it is precisely this difference that makes him the sanctuary we need in our darkest moments.
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