From the third chapter of Genesis on, the Bible makes it clear that we are BROKEN PEOPLE living in BROKEN PLACES. Everything is out of whack from the way God intended it to be. There is sickness, mourning, pain, suffering, and ultimately death. So what’s the use in going on as BROKEN PEOPLE living in BROKEN PLACES? Because God is in both BROKEN PEOPLE and BROKEN PLACES.
BROKEN PLACES
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:20-22)
When Adam and Eve fell, the whole cosmos fell. The world is now broken, which means we live in BROKEN PLACES, no matter what they may look like with the naked eye. The world is marked by confusion and chaos, and darkness covers the land. Yet, instead of starting over with a brand new creation, God is in the process of making all things new. God is bringing His light into BROKEN PLACES, which means He is using these BROKEN PLACES in the process of cosmic renewal.
Painful providence is God’s servant. Sickness is God’s servant. Mourning is God’s servant. Pain is God’s servant. Suffering is God’s servant. Death is God’s servant. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Omnipotence has servants everywhere.” God is using BROKEN PLACES to mend BROKEN PEOPLE just like you and me.
BROKEN PEOPLE
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
Jesus entered into this broken world to bind the brokenhearted and to set the captives free. Jesus is mending BROKEN PEOPLE and BROKEN PLACES. He brings hope to the hopeless . . . joy to the joyless . . . grace to the graceless. Paul recounted that “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
What an amazing promise from God to BROKEN PEOPLE living in BROKEN PLACES—that His grace is sufficient. Regardless of the BROKEN PLACE this finds you in today, and regardless how much longer God has you traveling on your road of brokenness, God has promised to mend BROKEN PEOPLE . . . and that includes you!
This is the gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 