Gruesome Beauty

Below are the lyrics of the first verse of an old hymn that I have grown to love over the past few weeks. It is a hymn I sang many times growing up but the truths in it have taken on more significant meaning. It is not that the truth in the words have changed but that God has expanded my heart and mind to understand the depths of beauty in these gruesome words. As you read the strain below, please do not allow your eyes to quickly gloss by. Instead, allow your imagination to be free. The imagery is truly a gruesome beauty.

"There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."

In Paul's letter to the Romans we read, "My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:1-4

A number of things strike me about this passage. First, it begins and ends with Christ. Jesus is the answer for our sin problem. There is no other solution! In and of ourselves we could never earn favor with God by our own merit. No matter how upright of a life one may live it is not good enough. We may be filled with all zeal but it still falls short; yet, we are all guilty. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." "We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Jesus is our substitute. By his spilt blood Jesus bore our sin on the cross paying the price that we could never pay. No good work that I do can pay that price. Jesus saves! Jesus is my righteousness before God and because Jesus blood covers me God looks at me as completely sinless! What an amazing truth. May I "plunge" deep into the flood of Jesus blood.

Second, this realization brings us to a place of prayer and longing for others to know this gruesome beauty. Notice Paul states that his "heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved." This statement of Paul causes me to ask to questions. What is my heart's desire? What is my prayer for people, especially my loved ones?

If I am honest the first question should bring me to my knees because my heart's desire has often been contemptible. Unfortunately, I have been filled with malice, rivalry, envy, impurity, sensuality, fits of anger, dissension, and hatred. Truth be told; with out Christ I am completely guilty. Praise God that He is patient, faithful, and good! It is my hope that my heart's desire grows to be like Paul's.

Well...I don't do to well with the first question; how do I do with the second? I am beginning to do better. My prayers for others have begun to focus more on the understanding of the beauty of Christ. For those that already are cleansed by Him my prayers is that they would grow in their understanding and awe of Christ. For those that don't know that their eyes may be opened to the beauty of Jesus. Lastly, these prayers are for me as well.

In the past I have had the misunderstanding that I become a follower of Jesus and suddenly the cross becomes second fiddle to my walk. What a shame that I have made this misunderstanding. The cross is central. Everyday, I must fall on my knees in praise and adoration to Jesus for all that He has done and for the hope that He gives!