Definition of Scar
“a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed.”
The Stories They Tell
One of my favorite sayings, “Scars are tattoos with better stories.” rings so true in my own personal life, but not every story is fun or easy to hear. I’ve met the war hero whose body is scarred. He doesn’t like to talk about it because of the awful memories it brings back. On the other hand, I spent a great deal of time talking with a girl who bears a perfect imprint of an iron on her leg where her parents burned her when she was five. She proudly walks without a care in the world wearing her favorite summer clothes.
Scars can be reminders of regrets or victories. Sometimes it is a bit of both.
While there are many situations that can produce scars I’m going to focus on two kinds, scars from sin and scars from love.
Sin's Cost
The word scar has a negative connotation in today’s world. To many, they are visible tells of mistakes. There are plenty of Biblical examples to prove that theory true. Samson’s body bore the scars of disobedience (Judges 16). When he valued the things of his world more than the blessings of God he fell far, fast.
Don’t we all know that Christian who walked away from his or her faith, the Bible, or God’s will tired of being "good all the time." They pursue the "pleasures of sin for a season" and came back with a wound from wandering. (Hebrews 11:25)
Maybe you see that Christian every time you look in the mirror? (Genesis 13:10)
The first time drunk behind the wheel of a car and a family of four dies.
One yes that should have been a no and beautiful home becomes a battlefield.
One taste and a life-long addiction becomes a constant companion.
Sin and disobedience don’t need time to do damage or cost a price you’re not ready to pay. It has the ability to create painful wounds and scars in a windfall.
Before you jump to conclusions about someone's scars though, remember it might have been their LOVE that wounded him or her and left the scar you see.
Love's Price
Make no mistake, Job had nasty scars which were both visible and invisible because he loved the Lord. Jobs’ scars were not a result of ANY sin. They were for God’s glory. As hard as that is to wrap our brains around, scars because you love are real.
John 9:2 “ And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
Jacob walked with a limp his whole life because he refused to let God go (Genesis 32). He struggled with Him all night long, and it was that night God named him Israel.
A blessing at the cost of a scar.
There is no denying that sin forces some to wear scars, but not all who you see bear scars sinned.
It wasn’t Job’s sin that caused the death of his family. He loved God more anything.
It wasn’t Joseph’s sin that gave him the scars of prison. He trusted God with everything.
And most importantly it wasn’t Jesus’ sin that nailed Him to the cross that day at Calvary. It was mine.
Christ's scars were the price of His love for me and you. The price of love sometimes means we as Christians are going to bear scars on our body like our Saviour. Paul famously wrote, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galations 6:17).
Both Love and Sin can leave scars on people. Christ's love for us left scars on His body. Our sin can leave scars of regret. What writes on your heart is your choice.
Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4:16)