Nothing Is Wasted
Love actually shows us that such sin and pain and defeat is ultimately defeated BY Christ and IN Him! Who can experience that freedom? Who can find such life? Who on earth can know this peace?
Whoever. See 1 John 4:15.
And that brings us to today. I once was a kid and had experiences I had no foresight to think about at the time. For better and for worse, I made some good decisions that helped form who I am now and some dumb decisions that I’ve also learned from. Both have made me who I am now. So when I watch these shows and it brings up some pretty great conversations with my own kids, there’s a sweet truth that brings all of this full circle: When God changes us, He also effectively changes those around us as well. And it gets better! When I watch shows like today’s (on Last Man Standing), and remember the characters from decades ago (on Home Improvement), the enjoyment of the current show grows exponentially!
The same is true for watching how God brings beauty from the ashes of past sins and mistakes. Where there was only death before, God shows us that's the work of the enemy, and He trades that death for life in Him.
We find hope when we find Christ. He gives us ways to praise, reasons in the seasons, and grace in every space.
I pray each of us will have the same forward thoughts, and hopes, about the lives we’re leading today. There is beauty in being broken, great hope to be found despite our hurts, and thankfulness to give even for the trauma we’ve faced. Until the last person is born and God brings an end to human history as we've always known it, we all have improvements to make. And we will see the glory of God in it all if we only look.
Not all with eyes see, or with ears can hear, but Jesus welcomes each one of us to see and hear the truth in His very person, with the promise that the Spirit will also be given to those who come to Him in trust. Tim "the Toolman's" screw-ups were never past the point of repair. Though God does not purpose our hurt or afflict us with sin, we can trust His Word that even the most heinous of sins can be forever destroyed by the blood of Jesus. I pray we will all know that kind of forgiveness (and experience such restoration!), and watch what God does in and through us in the days to come.