I almost bit the dust when I was seven years old. It was a hot summer day. I had been playing at a nearby park. I came home that afternoon all dusty and dirty. I started running the water in the bathtub, so my hands were now wet. I noticed a nightlight that was on the vanity, unplugged, so I decided to plug it back in. I climbed on the vanity and was plugging it, but my wet fingers came in contact with the light and the plug. Guess what happened?
I was jolted. I mean, I was lit up. I was knocked to the floor. I screamed and cried, absolutely terrified. And right away, like a super hero, my mother bounced into the bathroom. She picked me up off the floor and she held me so tight as I was shaking and crying. I have jokingly told friends that this was the point in time that my hair fell out, never to return.
So, let me ask you a question. Do you think for a minute that my frightened mother looked at me and said, “Hmnnn, he’s all dirty and muddy. After he gets cleaned up a little bit, then I’ll hug him and hold him.” Not a chance in the world. She didn’t care about the dirt and the mud. She only wanted to hold me.
With all of my heart, I believe that is what Jesus does for us today. He doesn’t care about the dirt and the mud. He doesn’t care about our past.
He only wants to hold us . . . and forgive us . . . and to love us.
The Apostle Paul affirmed, “Nothing in all creation shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39) That is the good news of the Gospel for those of us who are unworthy!