Friday, October 19, 2012

“Beautiful Heart”

 
     It has been said that the only imperfections in Heaven will be the wounds that mar the body of the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

     “Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:26-27).

     God allows the spear and nailprints that secured our salvation to remain upon His Son, doubtless to serve as the tangible evidence of our Savior’s sacrifice for us.  With Thomas upon the earth, the wounds elicited faith and assurance.  With the redeemed in Heaven, the wounds will foster love and eternal gratitude for the Christ who so desired our hearts that He gave His own to be pierced.  Even more, our presence is so dear to Him that on the cross of Calvary, He suffered forsakenness by His Father in order that believers might know the eternal presence of God (Matthew 27:46).  The wounds of the body remind us of this brokenness of heart, although we will forever know that we cannot fathom the horror of abandonment experienced by the Lord Jesus when the wrath of God fell upon Him so that it might never all upon us.

     Forever will not be long enough for adequate response to such love.  No amount of adoration, praise, thanksgiving and devotion can requite “the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19).  His enduring wounds bear witness, wounds that we cannot presently see.  One day we will, however, and the sight will enrapture our hearts with the knowledge of His heart.

Beautiful Heart

Oh beautiful Heart, I see Thee now…
 the sight is too wondrous to describe!
Oh beautiful Heart, I see Thee now…
 the glimpse is the joy of my life!

Oh beautiful Heart, I see Thee now,
pierced by a blade,
The blood and water flowed
As our sins were washed away.

(And when I think that forevermore, the holy scene will amaze me,
 enthrall me, enrapture me,
I fall to my knees, and in wonder I think of Thee,
O beautiful Heart, beautiful Heart.)

Oh beautiful Heart,
from death and sorrow raised,
Your life and Spirit flows,
as upon Your face we gaze.

O beautiful Heart, I come to Thee,
in this moment of grace that You give to me.
And the sweetness of this time,
Oh, the moment is sublime, as beautiful Heart you come to me.

(And when I think that forevermore, the holy scene will amaze me, 
enthrall me, enrapture me,
I fall to my knees, and in wonder I think of Thee,
O beautiful Heart, beautiful Heart.)

“And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands?  And He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.”
(Zechariah 13:6).


No comments: