I read her story, very briefly told, yet it didn’t fail to bless me. I know stories like that would touch a woman’s heart, whether to stir up wistful emotions or a feeling of deep gratitude to God, like what I had felt, for He turns ashes into beauty. Like what He had done to me.
This sister-in-Christ went back to her old hometown after several years and she shared how the sights evoked nostalgic thoughts. She reminisced how she went home after her sweetheart had proposed marriage to her, locked herself in her room and prayed earnestly, crying out to God to lead her to His perfect will. She had surrendered her life to Jesus years before and had been faithfully and fervently serving Him.
She married her sweetheart and they’ve been living blissfully together ever since and been blessed with an adorable daughter.
Such a beautiful story of a love that is chaste. This is how God has intended it to be: Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13:4). But the moral standards have increasingly deteriorated through the generations. The sacred union that is supposed to be an exclusive act between a husband and wife has been broken. Pre-marital sexual relations are predominantly practiced in our societies, not to mention promiscuity.
Anywhere one looks, there is this brokenness, the splashing of scarlet. A sin so scarlet and yet, so well accepted by the mainstream. We don’t have to look far. It happens all around us. I had lived that way, too. Looking back now, I learned that it all happened because I didn’t really know God. My knowledge of Him was superficial. It is easy to get so lost in life just by mere ignorance.
But even those who profess that they really know God and diligently read and study His Word, yet, they fall. I heard a brother-in-Christ testify that before, while he was an instrumentalist in another Christian congregation, he was living-in with his girlfriend. If there was no true regeneration, true spiritual birth, the self remains powerless against the lusts of the flesh.
We were all born in the flesh. That is why there is a need for a second birth: to be born of the Spirit.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6)
Many profess that they love the Lord Jesus Christ but they live in an entirely different direction as His Word teaches. We are all broken and scarlet-tainted people, until we lay ourselves prostrate before the Savior and let His blood wash all our sins, as scarlet as they are.
“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. (Is. 1:18)
His blood, this scarlet flow that was shed in Calvary – it is the only thing that can wash away all sin, the only thing that can heal all brokenness. This scarlet flow washing clean our scarlet-tainted lives.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14)
Related:
(If you haven’t received the Lord Jesus Christ in your life and are not sure if you are saved and heir of eternal life, know the keys of salvation here).
My weekly gratitude list ~ thankful to the Lord for:
- this video that Hannah made for me for Mother’s Day. To know that she’s been inspired enough to make one for me makes me think that all my efforts in rearing her in the way of the Lord are coming to fruition.
- a happy celebration of Mother’s Day with family.
- using difficult problems that bring heartaches to draw me closer to Him – humble, surrendered, and needy.
- the fervent love of brethren-in-Christ, friends and family.
Our Healing Moments 
It does seem that immorality is rampant in our culture. But, praise God that He offers forgiveness and new beginnings! When we give our lives to Christ and turn from our sins, He washes us clean as snow! I’ve also discovered that the closer we come to God…the deeper our relationship becomes…the more we become aware of our own failings and can change. We are works in progress and I am so thankful for God’s guiding hand! Blessings, Rina!
You describe here one of the sorrows many of us bear, but I do so like your simple understanding of it: “We were all born in the flesh. That is why there is a need for a second birth: to be born of the Spirit.” Yes, ma’am, and I am so grateful.
How thankful I am that God makes it possible through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit to live in a way that pleases Him! His forgiveness is overwhelming – so whole and complete.
“We are all broken and scarlet-tainted people, until we lay ourselves prostrate before the Savior and let His blood wash all our sins, as scarlet as they are.”
Yes, so true!
In the words of the old hymn:
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
What a Redeemer!
Thank you for this very timely post. What a great job your daughter did on the video. I know it is very special to you as she is.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Anywhere one looks, there is this brokenness, the splashing of scarlet. I like that phrase. It’s so true, thank you for linking up last week at Lessons From Ivy, I hope you’ll join again.