Tuesday, July 29, 2014

A Fairy Tale Come True

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8 & 9

     Do you believe in fairy tales? Maybe you wished a Prince Charming would notice you, rescue you and take you to live in a wonderful castle. Maybe you married someone, your dreamy attractive person, only to be disappointed. Don't worry! You just picked the wrong Prince.

     Cinderella was lifted from the ashes of her life and given a diaphanous blue gown to wear to the impressive ball, where she had longed to go.

     Sleeping Beauty was roused from her nap, freed from the curse that was placed upon her, by the kiss of a benevolent lover.

     Snow White found unconditional love, apart from the vain queen who sought revenge.

     Every fairy tale seems to have an ogre, a rotten-toothed, hunchbacked, mean-spirited person that sets out to harm the protagonist, usually a sweet, young girl in need of rescue. Who will save her from this tower of captivity or this life of drudgery? Is there someone strong enough to break the binds of injustice, the curse of evil that was cast?

     Yes! Jesus is that Prince. True royalty, whose kingdom shall never end, he laid down his life for his Beloved. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He pulls us from the sooty ashes of despair, dressing us in the most lovely, shimmering gown. Listen to this passage from Isaiah, chapter 61:

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
And the day of vengeance of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
And provide for those who grieve in Zion-
To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
And a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
 
     This is one fairy tale that is true and has a happy ending.
 
"This is amazing grace,
This is unfailing love,
That you would take my place,
That you would bear my cross.
You laid down your life,
That I would be set free.
Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me."

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