Beautiful Redemption

Let’s start at the very beginning
All was beautiful and good
Then sin and death entered the scene
Emptiness
Leading away from God
Destruction and decay
Lost
Alone
Separation
Restriction
Darkness and lies
Rebellion
Slaves to sin
Brokenness and corruption
Locked in
Trapped
But God always had a plan to restore
To make new
To bring light
To bring freedom and grace
New creations
God’s handiwork
Transformed by perfect love
Making beautiful things out of us
All things beautiful in his time
Alive in his hands
Lavish grace. That’s a lot.
Unending, always there
Always more
He was crushed, afflicted and pierced
For us
An unbearable load on him
A cost to pay
And now, freedom
Gratitude
Gaining access by faith
Forgiveness and peace
Justice and truth
Access to our holy God
White as snow
Justified through faith
Peace with God
Intimacy
He lifts us up
We are seated with him
His kindness moves our hearts
Acceptance
Invited into his house
Sons and daughters
A great salvation
A good news gospel
A story to tell
Light and life
Made whole
Our living hope
Our faith has a voice
Declare it in the atmosphere
We are a reality
Flesh and blood
Visible and embodied
A life worth living
A mandate to care
A love to give
Redeemed slaves
It's beautiful
Beautiful redemption

(My reflections from Sunday services on 18th Feb 2024 and conversations with friends from the Middle East. Artwork from Children's Church by Lulibo Gxasheka, age 2 and a half)