Patchwork of Ugliness

 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 
Isaiah 1:18

        I live in a beautiful part of the world, and my drive to work is usually scenic. But last month, I noticed someone had sprayed blue paint across the bridge parapet wall. It was ugly. At first, it bothered me, but after a few days, I actually stopped noticing it. 

Until today.

        As you can see in the picture, there was a man with a roller covering the graffiti with bright white paint. And I panicked.

With some of the graffiti still exposed, the brilliant new paint stood in sharp contrast against the ugly, faded white of the old wall. It was a patchwork of ugliness!

But unexpected traffic jams are great opportunities for taking pictures; especially when the Holy Spirit wants to use a "prop" to grab my attention!!

        That parapet wall was like a giant projector screen of life. At first, obvious sins bother us. But then, the voices around us console us, claiming that the vandalism is just "free speech," a "childish prank," or the most dangerous excuse of all; that it’s "harmless" because "everyone is doing it." We use fancy words to soften the blow: rebellion becomes "identity," bitterness is "standing my ground," and compromise and unbelief are just "being realistic".

        But when held up against God’s Original Design, the offence is suddenly, shockingly obvious. It’s time to call it by its real name: Vandalism.

        I often treat the Lord like that man with the roller. I expose a specific "scarlet" spot; the obvious, embarrassing sin; and ask Him to cover it. But once that patch is covered, I am tempted to ask Him to leave. The panic comes when I realise that His righteousness is so bright it exposes the "faded grey" of the rest of the wall.

        That dull grey represents a life damaged by wrong choices, but it also represents the collateral damage of others' sins that hurt and mark us, especially in spaces we had no control over them. We get used to the "grey" of our trauma and our history until we think it is just who we are.

But God is not a "patchwork" artist. The sacrifice on the cross is enough to cover both the sin you did, and the sin done to you. He isn't interested in just fixing your mistakes; He wants to reclaim your entire foundation.

The question is: Are you bold enough to stop renaming the mess? Are you brave enough to let Him pay for the entire cost of your life, until the whole canvas reflects His glory?

Don't settle for a clean patch on a greying wall. Invite Him to take the whole thing.

He who began this good work in you will not stop at the patches. He wants to carry it on to completion. Will you let Him?

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. 

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” 

And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for getting used to the mess, and for the fancy words I have used to hide it. Thank You that Your sacrifice is enough to cover my sins and heal the wounds left by others. Lord, give me the strength and the courage to stop hiding the sullied and faded parts of my life from You. I surrender my whole life to You today. Please, won’t You come and purge the infection of my past, wash away the stains, and paint over my grey with Your righteousness? Make it all new. I surrender all. 

Amen.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

 Psalm 51:7