A. INTRODUCTION
1. What did Paul mean? “From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).
a. Did he mean actual scars (2 Cor. 4:10; 11:23, 25)?
b. Did he mean emotional scars?
c. Did he mean spiritual scars?
Scar (Fr. escar, Gr. Scab) 1. A mark left by a healing wound, 2. An identification resulting from damage or wear, 3. A moral or lasting emotional injury.
2. Embarrassed. Scars are ugly.
3. Conviction. Scars reveal past problems, accidents, bad habits (needle marks).
4. Uneasy. Scars remind us of past pain or embarrassment, or failure.
B. SCARS ARE POSITIVE
1. Scars mean you are over past pain, failure or accident.
2. Scars mean you have healed and that area is now healthy.
3. Scars mean that area is free of germs, disease, or sin.
4. Scars mean the pain associated with the wound is passed.
5. Scars mean you probably won’t face that pain again.
6. Scars remind us of lessons we should have learned from a bad experience. “Don’t do it again.”
7. Scars may remind us of life-saving surgery to remove something painful or life-threatening.
8. Scars should remind us that we are alive and the area that was hurting or diseased is now healthy.
C. WOUNDS ARE DANGEROUS
1. When a wound is open (not sealed) pain will continue. A bad scar is better than a good wound.
2. An open wound means there is possibility of germ or disease entering the body to make the situation worste.
3. An open wound means it is not healing.
D. LESSONS FROM WOUNDS AND SCARS
1. Our scars will be gone but the lessons we learned and the victories we achieved will remain. “They shall rest from their hard work, but their good deeds will follow them” (Rev. 14:13, NLT).
2. A wound from God is a good thing. “Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!” (Deut. 32:39, NLT).
3. No one likes to be wounded. When you are wounded, you want relief. “The wounded cry for help” (Job 24:12, NLT). “Get me out of here . . . I am badly wounded” (2 Chron. 18:33, NLT).
4. Inner pain is sometimes greater than physical pain, “my heart is wounded within me” (Ps. 109:22, NLT).
5. Our enemy can cause intentional suffering. “She has cast many wounds” (Prov. 7:26, NKJV).
6. Our friends can cause suffering and wounds for our good. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Prov. 27:6, NLT).
7. It is sometimes harder to get over psychological wounds, than physical wounds. “The human spirit can endure a physical wound, but who can endure a crushed spirit?” (Prov. 18:14, ELT).
8. Your wound is not as bad as it could be. Sometimes God sends wounds in His love to prevent worse consequences or pain. “I have wounded you . . . because of the multitude of your iniquity” (Jer. 30:14, KJV).
9. Wounds from friends hurt the most. “Wounded in the house of my friends” (Zech. 13:6, KJV).
10. Some wounds are equivalent to death. “Wounded to death” (Rev. 13:3).
11. The Lord will care for and heal your wounds. “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Ps. 147:3, NLT).
E. THE FUTURE OF SCARS
1. Substitutionary death. Jesus was wounded for our sins. “He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquity . . . with His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:5, KJV).
2. The wounds of Jesus completed the Father’s love and plan. “God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son . . .” (John 3:16, NLT). “It was the Lord’s good plan to crush him . . .” (Is. 53:10).
3. Jesus’ scars are the only reminder of sin in heaven. “And if someone asks, ‘Then what about those wounds on your chest?’ he will say, ‘I was wounded at my friends’ house’” (Zech. 13:6, NLT). And “Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it’s really Me” (Luke 24:39, NLT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
To email Dr. Towns - eltowns@liberty.edu.
