Author	Thread: Scars of Life
Admin	Scars of Life Posted : 20 Aug, 2011 10:18 AM Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida , a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.' You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, God's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. God wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of God's love on your arms, be very, very grateful. God did not and will not ever let you go. Please pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know what they are going through or how they got those scars. Also, it is so important that we forward this message to someone else. Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them,and you love them,too. --enough to not let them go . Post Reply
teach_ib View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 20 Aug, 2011 08:16 PM Good story...how true. Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 21 Aug, 2011 12:00 AM Andea, What would you give as an example of "God's Scars"? Post Reply
teach_ib View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 22 Aug, 2011 09:15 PM I think the scars would differ depending on the trials and experiences one went through. Paul had his 'thorn in his side' that God would not remove. The deeper in sin, the more scars or reminders of what we've been forgiven of once we are saved. Paul had to live with the memories of the people he persecuted before he got saved. This was probably a huge motivator to him. He probably thought of them during the times he was stoned....but he thought it all gain. Our scars help us help others...we never know when we will be called upon to reach out to someone else dealing with situations similar to ours. Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 25 Aug, 2011 12:37 AM Teach, The �Point� that I wanted to make is that I don�t Believe that God Scars us. If God Saves us from hurting ourselves or from �killing� ourselves�He does not leave any Scars. Now�I do agree that we will end up with �Life Scars� that can point to our Growing up �In the Lord�. Oftentimes when we �Fall� we will scrap some part of our body (knees�elbow) or perhaps a �Spiritual� part of our body�but that is what �We� have done to ourselves�not what God has done to us. What I�ve Experienced is just the Opposite. With God�s �Armor� Protecting me�I find that I have received fewer and less visible Wounds�but even those were of My Own Doing�not of God�s. Do you see what I mean? Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 25 Aug, 2011 09:01 AM Arch : I disagree, I bear his scars of punishment ---see :Hebrews 12:6 " For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 25 Aug, 2011 12:02 PM Itasca, I believe that we were discussing God leaving Scars when He Helps us...not Punish us. Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 25 Aug, 2011 02:06 PM If you do not think god punishes you are sadly mistaken. Re-read the scripture I posted. Post Reply
teach_ib View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 25 Aug, 2011 08:24 PM The fathervin the story was not trying to hurt his child. Because of the struggle, the child ended up with scars. The father refused to let go. Because we get entangled with the world, our Heavenly Father grabs hold of us and hangs on. The scars are left from the struggling we do allowing the world to hang on to us and fighting against the Father's hold. Because we have a free will, we can make the wrong choices and have to suffer consequences (punishment) for our sins. This can also leave scars...figuratively or literally. Satan uses those scars...our memories...to try to keep us down, planting seeds of doubt in our minds if we do not rebuke him. Dealing with young children who throw tantrums provides a similar example. If you try to hold them to help calm them down or prevent them from hurting themselves, they often will struggle against you. You have no intention of hurting them but they will tell you you're hurting them. All they would have to do is stop squirming and struggling and they would no longer be hurting. God wraps His arms around us yet we often struggle to get away...leaving marks on us. Post Reply
View Profile History	Scars of Life Posted : 28 Aug, 2011 03:03 PM I believe that we would all agree that not all scars are visible yet can still be seen, and not all scars are pysical but still affect us all in the pysical world. Someone once said that the only man made things in heaven are the scars of Jesus Christ. His scars though man made were the will of the Father, they are scars that we will see, yet these scars were made on the road to glorification. What was the end result of the Fathers will? Our Father, allows whatever it takes to glorify His children, scars included. I'm sure Job had some scars both on the inside from the deaths of his children and on the outside from satan afflicting him with boils from head to toe. The Father allowed this and in the end not only was Job blessed with twice what satan robbed him of but also glorified. Its not so much the road but the destination that we must focus on, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. May we all be blessed with all knowledge and wisdom in Christ Jesus.... Post Reply