The Beauty of Brokenness
Most if not all of
us are familiar with the story of Job. Job, a righteous man of God, blameless
and upright before God, wealthy beyond measure; a family man blessed with many
children, livestock. Job who early in the morning offered burnt
offerings just in case one of his children MIGHT have sinned against God. Yes,
that Job.
How many of you
know that Satan can’t stand to see men and women of God praying, communing with
their creator? Furious, Satan decided to interrupt the morning State of Creation
meeting between God and His angels. Indulge
my sanctified imagination as I envision God going down the roll of angels; each
giving an update on the activities of their specific Heavenly assignments. God,
knowing Satan had infiltrated the Holy meeting, finally looked at Satan,
acknowledging his presence by asking “From where have you come?” Satan’s
response: “From roaming around the earth and walking around on it”. That
roaring lion was seeking whom he could devour.
God, then asks “Have
you considered My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a
blameless and upright man, one who fears God and abstains from and turns away
from evil”. Satan suggests the only reason Job is blessed is because God has
placed a hedge of protection around all that Job touches and does. Should that
hedge be removed, Job would curse God to His face. God allows Satan to test
Job, but he is not allowed to take Job’s life.
As the tests
progress, Job loses EVERYTHING: servants, flocks, children and ultimately his health.
Job’s friends arrive offering unsolicited and unhelpful advice and accusations.
Even Mrs. Job urges Job to “Curse God and die”. Yet, even after questioning God
about his predicament, Job does not curse God. “Naked came I out of my mother’s
womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taketh away,
blessed be the name of the Lord” Job 1:21 KJV. For Job’s
faithfulness to God, he is blessed to recover double of all that was taken
away. Job has more children, his wealth, servants, flocks and health are all
restored. What remains is the scar or memory of the experience.
Meditate with me a
moment as we look at the Beauty of Brokenness. Japanese culture has a term “Kintsukuroi”
which means “To repair with Gold”. It is the art of repairing pottery with gold
or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having
been broken. This ancient techniques repairs the broken pottery by sealing the
pieces with resin mixed with gold or silver powder. It is then goes through the
refiner’s fire again and comes out as a new piece reflective of the trauma it
has gone through. The most devastated part of the piece has now become the most
valuable. The scar is no longer something to be hidden or ashamed of; the piece
is transformed and has become a new creation.
Doesn’t that sound
familiar? “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things
are passed away; behold all things are become new”2 Cor. 5:17 KJV. When
something is broken, sometimes it can be fixed, repaired, healed, but it can
never be returned to its original state. During an autopsy, even after death,
scars remain. Evidence on the body or bones remains that can lead to discovery
of the cause of death. Evidence is detectable upon close scrutiny.
Herein lies the
beauty of Kintsukuroi. The object is repaired, but the evidence of, the test,
trial, battle or break is still evident. Yet, the piece is beautiful because of
the material used to repair it. Those gold or silver veins running through the
piece add beauty and value. The veins are indicative of the struggle and what
was given to make the repair. The object is a new creation that bears an
outward symbol of the new life given to the piece through the healing veins
flowing through it.
Veins are extremely
important to us as humans. Veins and arteries carry our life blood to and from
our hearts; distributing oxygen and other vital elements necessary for good
health. So too as we look at the earth itself, veins run throughout the earth
carrying elements such as gold, silver, rare gems and other minerals of great
expense. These veins are created over thousands, maybe millions of years under great pressure, stress and strain.
This is exactly
what God offers when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Our lives, souls are made
more beautiful because under close scrutiny, as people observe you, they see the healed scars. What they actually see is the
blood of Jesus flowing through you mending what was once broken. What they see
is the luminosity of the Holy Spirit shinning from you, encouraging you and
helping you become the person God intended you to be. As with Kintsukuroi
pottery, you are more beautiful and valuable because of your blood-washed
scars.
Each of us has
experienced or are experiencing trials, tribulation, turmoil, whatever it is,
you are left broken. God gives us a way of escape, a way to work towards wholeness,
redemption, forgiveness, towards peace. Psalm 66:10 AMP states: “You
have tested us Oh God; you have refined us as silver is refined” and Job 23:10b
AMP states: “When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined]
gold [pure and luminous]”.
Jesus assured us
that we would have tribulations, but He also assured us that He came into the
world to give us hope; to overcome our struggles, to save us from our sins and
redeem us unto God. Just as the horrific crucifixion experience left physical
scars on our Savior, so to do our traumas leave scars on us. Physical scars,
emotional scars, soul searing scars; we come forth by the blood of Jesus and
the power of the Holy Spirit scarred, but praise God, healed. We come forth as
new creations in Christ.
Sometimes, God chooses
to allow our cracks to remain visible. Moses retained his stutter, Jacob
retained his limp, and Paul’s thorn was never removed. God’s grace and mercy
becomes the gold and silver that fills the cracks in our brokenness. It becomes
the testimony we share with the world. It is our ever-present reminder of God’s
sovereignty, of His love, of His faithfulness towards us. When we open our
minds, hearts and souls and accept the salvific blood of Jesus, we, through the
power of the Holy Spirit go through the process of Kintsukuroi. Like the broken
pottery, we must lay ourselves, our burdens at the Altar of sacrifice; offer
ourselves to Jesus to be infused with His love and peace; to be made whole.
Scripture states
we are like a city set upon a hill that cannot be hidden. Like the repaired
pottery, the light of Jesus flowing through our veins exudes a brightness that
cannot be extinguished as long as we hold to His unchanging hand. The world
knows what we’ve been through, and can see the new light and new life that has
become the visible, healing scars that have made us whole. As believers, our
lives should be a shining, luminous example to a sin sick world that through
Jesus, there is new life, wholeness, love and peace.
If you are weary,
broken, unsure of what lies ahead, there is hope for you. Jesus is waiting for
you to make that life-changing decision to become a believer; to give your life
to Christ. If you’re longing for peace, for joy, for hope I invite you to try Jesus. Give your life to the Bread of Life
the Light of the world, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s not too late.
Let Jesus mend the cracks, breaks, and tears in your life. Let His healing,
redeeming, cleansing blood make you a new creation, make you whole.
