Redemption

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Psalm 103:4


If you're a believer, the word redemption flows throughout our language, our pulpit, our pews. God, our Redeemer. I've been thinking about redemption a lot lately, largely in part of circumstances, largely in part of Mark. Mark would say "God can redeem this". "This can be redeemed". So, redemption: Definitions : deliverance, rescue, atonement for sin....paying off....but my favorite....repurchasing." Redemption from our sins is yes, key. But redemption from our circumstances - from something that Satan tends to destroy...is a bit different and yet a bit the same. I like the thought of God "re-purchasing" us from our situation. Whatever it might be. An illness, a dwindling marriage, friendship, mistakes....name it. Name your hardship. It's as though God says "Oh, wait a second. She's mine. He's mine. This situation's mine." to the Enemy. He redeems it. Another definition I found is "recovery by payment." Well, we know that we were "bought with a price." So is not all that we have "open for redemption". I picture a garage sale. On the table is all of our faults. All of our sins. All of our "messes". And God walks up, picks up our broken pot and says "Ah, just what I needed for my perfect plan. I'll take it."
Often I think we believe our circumstances, our "broken pots", our "lot", our mistakes to be at the Point of No Return. As though a sign the Enemy wants to stick here - Oh, big mistake. Here's your sign. A stake in the "mud". And sometimes we stick our "Point of No Return" signs into our lives and live as though this was truth. But see, God can "re-purchase" it. It is not lost. It is not "un-usable". Infact, it is probably the very things, the places in our lives with the Enemy's signs that God will use - redeeem....in other words, another definition, will rescue.

Oh God you see this place I'm in
A point of no returns
Oh God please take your gentle hands
And buy my wounds and burns

And though I staked upon a lie
Your Son, enough for it to buy
So take these signs
And instead
May these places be
The places where You tread

So all my broken pots
My bruises, weaknesses, and shame
You purchased with two wooden beams
And they are Yours to reclaim.

Nat

*This is kind of an after thought. The movie the Shawshank Redemption. A man, Andy, put in prison for a crime he did not commit - there twenty years. Most of us, certainly I, would become bitter and angry after twenty years. It just might not even seem worth it to keep going, to get out. But in the scene where he escapes, Andy rips off his clothes (we should all probably refrain from this but go with me...) and his hands fly in the air and he basks in the rain.....he basks in his freedom....he has been redeemed. He didn't escape, curl up in a bawl and sob. He didn't curse and scream that he had been in prison. Instead he saves Red, Samuel L. Jacksons character by providing him hope when he gets out into the world.
So when we're tempted to be bitter....it's probably good to recall Andy....and rejoice in God's redemption. Not think "too late", "doesn't matter".....and then when we're out it's good to help someone that's been there. And remember what Andy told Red "Get busy living or get busy dying". And then go get a boat on the beach. (No, wait. That's the movie. Probably best to refrain from that part as well.)