"For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me." - Psalm 38:4
I am not really sure the story behind the picture of this lion's wounded face. I can assume, though, it was caused by a fight that he had with another lion and I'm not sure what the other lion looks like, but I think this picture speaks volumes. When I look at this picture I think about my own life. I think about the broken childhood I experienced, I think about how I was introduced to pornography at the age of 12 and how it was a part of my life for 8 years, I think about how sexually immoral I was in high school and even halfway through college. I think about my anger problem and the insecurities I have. I think about how sin has marred, scarred, and wounded my soul just like this lion's face. It has certainly left its mark on me. Like this lion, I walk around everyday with the scars that sin has gashed into me. Sin effects the way that we think and act. For example: when I was 3 or 4 years old my parents got a divorce. I lived in a really broken home and my mom had custody of me. I would go see my dad every other weekend and though he was there physically and I knew he was real, he was absent emotionally and spiritually in my life. I didn't feel like he cared about me a lot of times. The way my earthly dad treated me has effected me in the way I view my heavenly Father now. I can remember walking in the living room around the age of 6 years old to make conversation with my dad and he would shoo me away and tell me to be quiet because he was trying to listen to what was on television. That is how I sometimes view my heavenly Father now. I know He is real, but I don't feel like He cares to talk to me sometimes. So that is just an example of what I mean that sin effects the way we think and act. It breaks our view on everything. I didn't have a male figure to teach me what biblical sex looks like, so I inevitably had to teach myself the incorrect view of it through pornography and experiencing it for myself before marriage (I hope that wasn't too personal). Sin has placed such a heavy burden on my life in many more ways than just those examples. That burden that sin has placed on me is far too heavy for me too carry. Again, like this lion, I have scars all over and a heavy burden to carry, but I, and you, can trade our heavy burden for a light one.
" 28. Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus gives us the invitation to come and exchange our heavy load for His light one. He offers us rest for our wrecked and wounded souls. All the baggage that I have in my life and all the baggage you have in yours, Jesus says to come and lay it at his feet. He tells those that are broken in spirit, those that see that their burden is too heavy, to come and let His sacrifice on the cross heals your wounds. Jesus does not say, "Go, do away with that heavy burden and your crimson stains of sin." He says, "Come, I'll take that heavy burden for you and I'll wash your crimson stains away." We cannot deny the mark that sin leaves on our heart and soul. We need not try to cover up the deep wounds and brokenness we suffer from. We must come to the great Physician, as John Newton would call our Lord, and let Him heal us.
Stephen
