I love this illustration. Unfortunately I don't remember where I got it so I can't cite the source.
The home of an English family caught on fire. They thought everyone got out safely; but when it was discovered the baby was missing, the mother went back into the fire for her baby. She pushed away burning wood and finally reached into the cradle for her baby. Her hands were badly burned. For years the mother went about the house with her hands covered, which embarrassed the daughter. Her friends made fun of her mother's gloved hands. In fact, the girl became ashamed of her mother. But one day the daughter walked into her mother's room unexpectedly. There sat her mother with her hands uncovered. For the first time she saw her mother's hands. They were scarred and ugly. The mother quickly tried to cover them. The daughter said in disgust, Mother, those are the ugliest hands I have ever seen. Finally the mother felt she must tell her daughter about her hands. "When you were a small baby a fire destroyed our house, you were in your cradle. I had to fight my way through the flames to save you. I wrapped you in a blanket, dropped you from the window into waiting hands. Not being able to go down the stairway, I climbed out the window. My hands were burned; I also slipped and tore my hands as I fell. The doctors did their best to repair my hands, but this is the best they could do. I know that you are ashamed of my hands but these hands were torn and scarred for you. The girl, now grown, wept, took one hand and then the other, buried her face in them and wept saying, "Mother, I'm so sorry! Forgive me! Those are the most beautiful hands I have ever seen." One day all Christians will stand before their Lord and will be able to look at the nail-scarred hands and say, "Those are the most beautiful hands we have ever seen."
I am grateful that Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. I know that without Him and what He has done for me I would be a guilty sinner and deserving of eternal damnation. I'm glad His sacrifice was enough! God is completely satisfied with what Jesus did at Calvary and has released me from my sin debt. I can't add a thing to it. His blood covers it and that's all there is to it!
I can't begin to tell you how wonderful Jesus is to me. He is my Savior and I gladly follow Him. He is Lord and is worthy of all I give Him and more. Have you given your heart to the One who was willing to go all the way for you? Whatever your sins, no matter how far you think you are from God, the blood of Jesus is enough to satisfy God. Just take Him up on His offer of forgiveness and salvation. Talk to Him and let Him know you need Him.
If you have already done so, have you thanked Him for saving you today? We should be eternally grateful for what He has done for us. We should tell Him everyday how thankful we are for His sacrifice at Calvary. I thank God for saving me and I can't wait tell Him what His nail-scarred hands mean to me!
Agape,
Pastor Jesse
