Scars and Layers

My daughter and I were making supper.... I handed my daughter an onion, and as she began to peel it, she declared, "This onion has a scar!" She then said, "And it has many layers- just like a lot of people." We had been discussing about some of Stephanie's friends that had gone astray, and the onion became our object lesson....

Yes, it is true. Many people have deep scars. And just like the onion, they have many layers to peel through. Occasionally, as with the onion, you will find a layer that is hard, bruised or rotten, as well. The onion has such a pungent aroma that it will cause you to cry, if you decide to cut through the layers. It's painful to the one trying to get through the layers, but it is also painful to be the one having the layers stripped away. Why do you think people strike out and give off such a stink, when you begin to get through the layers?

God gives us spiritual lessons in many of His creations. If we take heed to them, we can learn much.

Jesus spoke of when he would have to give his life, in order to bring forth the fruit of salvation in John 12:24. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

For us, that means that the outer shell has to fall off. We need to die to what we are outwardly, to let our heart be free and tender, very vulnerable in order to grow and bring forth fruit. If we as people hold onto our layers of who we think we are, layers of hurt or the layers that we call "protection", then we will never bloom. BUT, there is a danger of bearing one's heart to the wrong elements of life! Our heart must be buried deep into the soil of God's Love and watered by His Word. As we let Him strip off the things that doen't belong, and as we take in the warmth and nurishment of God's provision, it is then that we can grow. We will begin to branch out and give the fruit of our lives to others.

Nevertheless, if we choose to keep our pitiful layers, our lives will end at a loss. Verse 25 of John 12 says, "He that loveth his life shall lose it [he that loves all the layers of stuff around himself will lose his life]; and he that hateth his life in this world [he that lets go of it all to God] shall keep it [a new wonderful life] unto life eternal."

It's an awesome wonderful love story: We can either hang on to our layers of filthy rags, or we can sink deep into the nurishment of His love, and allow ourselves be stripped, in order to be clothed in righteousness.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

I am willing to be stripped of all I am, and yield to His love, cleansing and nourishment, so that I may be covered with His garments. Are you willing to do the same?