The ugly truth about redemption

Seems strange, doesn't it. You don't often think of redemption as ugly. It's one of those church words we throw around in conversation and in song, and it's always a good thing. Redeemed by the blood! Praise the Lord I've been redeemed! I'm guilty. More than once I've testified that I am a walking picture of redemption. 

It's one of those words I had to explain to my students in Bible class. I would show them a coupon and ask them to explain what redeem meant in context. At one time in my life I was the coupon queen. Have you ever looked at the value of a paper coupon? 1/20th of one cent. Simply put, I give you something with little or no value, and in return you give me something of much greater value. 

It's that simple with the redemption of sin, and it's not. Truly my sins have been redeemed. I give them to God and he returns to me eternal life. The ugly part comes in while giving the sins to God. In order to do this, sin must be brought to light. But you want to hear something really, really ugly? Not only does God redeem sins we have committed, but also sins committed by others that affect us. 

I'm not a biblical scholar. I'm not into theology. I love God. Jesus is my Savior and my favorite passage of scripture is Colossians 2:13-14...

13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive  Christ. He forgave us all our sins,14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

...not because of any deep philosophical or theological meaning behind these words. It is favorite because of the word picture it paints in my brain, my soul. 

This blog is part of my journey. I have never been one to write in a journal or a diary, but over the years I have experienced more than my fair share of the result of sin, both mine and the sins of others. I have stories to share that I hope will encourage and empower others. There are pictures in my head that have left imprints of hope and peace. If you choose to go with me on this journey, you will learn how important word pictures are to me. But I warn you, some of it will be ugly. I'm an honest, put it all out there kind of person. 

If you do decide to travel this with me know that I am not looking to garner sympathy. I am not looking for a cheering section in my corner. None of this is about my strengths or weaknesses, my talents or failures. It is all about the ugliness of bringing sin to light and the beauty of redemption.