I spent this morning walking the beach of South Padre Island. Thomas and I set out early from McAllen to watch the sun rise over the ocean. A solid bank of clouds obscured the sun as it first peeked over the horizon, but soon it was shining between gaps in the cotton ball clouds above, casting glorious god-beams in all directions.
The wind was crisp so I had to keep moving in order to keep warm. I enjoyed the exercise. For me there is no quicker path to contemplation than watching light dance on the ocean, or hearing the waves roll in and out over the sand. The rhythm of the surf felt like a prayer, so I added my voice to the waves - bringing friends and family one by one before the Throne of Grace. Then, without thinking, the words of the memorial acclamation came to my lips.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, You have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.
Jesus is the Savior of the world! Why had I never considered the implications of this truth?
If Jesus is the Savior of the world, then He is the one who will decide what needs saving and how it should be saved. He is the One who will benefit most from saving the world, for He will be its ruler. He will determine the length and breadth and depth of salvation for He is the Savior, and all authority has been given to Him. We will surely not be disappointed!
Living in the age when creation groans in the pains of childbirth, I confess my imagination is limited. I love the beauty of the shore and the grandeur of the mountains, but everything in this world is tainted with sadness and sin. My own life is no different. One the one hand, it is full of wonder and grace. Yet I often feel grief and sorrow, even though I have been saved. My life is held safe in the Savior’s hands. I am, in some essential way, the same person I will become. But I am wrong to think that salvation has worked its full power in my life.
I take comfort in the fact that Jesus was also a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” I believe this was true of His life well before the Passion. Jesus felt the weight and weariness of this world like the rest of us. Yet He was willing to endure it all, including the shame of the cross, “for the joy set before Him.”
Several months ago I had a vision of Jesus in which He led me through His Father’s house. I could not see the house,. I could not look at its furnishings or its architecture. I could only see Jesus’ hands as He held mine, and I could hear His voice explaining to me that this was the place from which He ruled. His voice was confident, joyful and tender without a hint of sadness or regret. His presence radiated a peace which is foreign to this world. I knew Jesus was completely satisfied in His work, and eager for us to see it unveiled.
For now we can look only with eyes of faith. For now we must groan with the world as we wait for salvation to be made complete. But we have an assurance , a joy set before us, which gives us hope to endure. We can even hope that our sorrows will be united to Jesus’ suffering, for He lives within His people. And while our sufferings, in their own merits, may effect no temporal change, Jesus’ wounds will surely heal the world. Every tear will be wiped away in heaven, I believe, not only because we are happy, but because the Savior has made our tears His own and employed them in glorious feat of redemption.
Truly our Savior will make all things new!
