Exposed Sin

 

In New England, as Autumn continues, the beauty of the leaves starts to fade.  Vibrant colors of red, orange, and yellow turns to muted browns.  Not only are the colors of the leaves changing, but there are many other changes.  Frost greets us every morning, the temperatures slide down the thermometer and the winds start to kick up.  The last of what can be harvested before winter is completed.  Preparations begin for winter.

One of the most notable changes is not only the leaves colors, but the fact that they depart from the trees and begin to cover the grass.  Everyone begins the mad dash of picking up the leaves to ensure they are not on the ground before the first snow.  Once the leaves are gone, the tree is completely bare.

 

As I looked at the tree above, and noticed the beautiful leaves were gone, what was left behind also had its own beauty. The nakedness of the tree was still something to marvel.  The way the branches intertwined with each other, the sturdiness of the trunk supporting branches large and small, and the smallest of twigs in the edges that gave the leaves their beauty.

I could not help but think of our Lord.  In the depths of our sin, we are totally exposed to God, much like the bare tree without any leaves.  We cannot run or hide.  Although others may not see the sin we have, our Lord knows all of it.  The sin that intertwines with other sins, the sin that may show ‘beauty’ on the outside but is dark on the inside.  Although we may feel bare, Jesus does not see us like that.  He died on the cross to ensure our sin blows away in the wind and what is left behind is a beauty and love that only Jesus can give us.  God sees our exposed guilt and replaces it with forgiveness and love.  What solace there is in knowing Jesus takes away our sin and replaces it with eternal life!  When you look at those bare and exposed trees, remember that your exposed sin is forgiven! 

Dearest Jesus, thank you for the gift of forgiveness.  As you see all our sin and the darkness that surrounds it, we also know that you died for our sin to be blown away and replaced with love and grace.  Thank you, Jesus!!