Scars

The bottoms of my feet are covered with scars. I have other scars, too—appendix, hips, neck—but the feet scars are a bit different. I see them every day. When I put on my socks, there they are. I’ve had these scars for a long time. Deep scars. When I was four years old, I stepped on a broken milk bottle on our back porch in Navy housing, Washington, D.C. It’s my earliest childhood memory. I realize not all scars are external. Our inner scars of hurt, disappointment, and tragedy also go quite deep

Several weeks ago, while I was getting dressed and putting on my socks, the thought struck me that in Paradise these scars will be removed forever. My body will be perfect, without blemish or defect. It’s a beautiful and comforting realization. And this thought also struck me: the only one in Paradise with scars will be Jesus the Christ. His scars are probably deep, too. They’ll be there for all eternity. The question is, “Why?”

The Bible tells its readers, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). But what kind of love? Does God love me like I love pizza? His scars are there to remind us forever that His love displayed on the cross is a self-sacrificing love (the Greek word is “agape”). This love impels one to sacrifice self-comfort and benefit for the good of another. This love is costly. It is the type of love a husband is to have for his wife (Ephesians 5:25). I understand (and practice) this love very little, even after so many years. My toes have barely touched His ocean’s vast depth, but I desire to be like my Master. My eternity is to realize every moment of His love for me, evident in His scars. That is what paradise will be like for you and me.

The book of 1 John in the New Testament uses the word “love” (“agape”) at least 40 times. It is a 15-minute read.

Do you have 15 minutes this week?

Your friend,

Leon Alderman, CDR, USN (Ret.)

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9