Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord-
how much more do human hearts! Proverbs 15:11
My team and I have been in Trujillo, Peru for five days. We live at a preschool and help out with it in the mornings, do soccer ministry with the neighborhood kids in the afternoon, and often plan a sermon or songs for service in the evenings. We will also be serving at a medical clinic next week, evangelizing on the streets, and aiding our host in painting the walls at our compound.
Last night, we sang in the church and sat in service.
I have mastered the art of looking like I’m paying attention… I mean, I don’t understand any of the words, and I’ve gotten into a routine of studying the word or praying and looking up every minute or so to look like I’m taking notes… Don’t judge.
But this Pastor has me bested. She’s the mother-in-law of our host, and she does not let anything get past her. She speaks 25 miles a minute, and I have no idea what she says, but I know the Spirit is moving because her entire congregation is “amen” ing all service. And when they don’t she looks up from the pulpit and says,
“Hola! Estamos aqui?”
All service I was chuckling about it in the back row.
It was the only thing I understood.
At the end of the service, she did some sort of altar call. Maybe it was a confession? I honestly I don’t know what it was. But more than half of the congregation went to the front, standing with their backs to me. They were weeping at the pulpit as she spoke words of life over them. She touched each of their foreheads and prayed with fervor to the King of Kings.
I jumped right into prayer for the work the Lord was doing in their hearts. Sometimes I feel limited in what I can do, but prayer is one place I can fulfill my purpose in the Kingdom among the people of Peru.
As I gazed at the backs of His children, the church melted away. They were no longer standing at the pulpit of that little cement church in Peru, but instead in the golden throne room of the Lord. With their backs to me still, and their faces to the throne, they wept even greater still.
And Jesus?
He was there, standing before them, gently wiping the tears off of that woman’s face, hugging that teenager and stroking her hair, whispering truths into that young man’s ears. And then bending down before each of them, removing their shoes, dipping His hand into some water and bathing their feet. And all the while whispering, “Let me have it, for I have already done it.”
I don’t know why Jesus showed me this picture. Maybe it was just for the little catch in my heart as I watched His deep love for His sheep. Maybe it’s for me to cling to in those moments when His throne seems completely unapproachable through the lens of my thick sin.
Or maybe, just maybe, His words are reaching through this screen and encompassing your heart right now. Maybe you need to know, need to be reminded that no matter what you do, or what you’ve done, He’s still on His knees, still washing your feet, still whispering “Let me have it. I’ve already covered it.”
The veil is torn. There is no more wall. The wrath is gone.
There’s only Him left, kneeling before you.
Give your sin to Jesus. Let Him wash you clean.
