Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? You felt totally defense-less and gasping for breath. No recourse left, but to try and recover and regain your composure. Totally unanticipated, you are left reeling.
It was an ordinary Wednesday night. The service was pretty much typical with the exception that it included the Lord's Supper. As I participated in the service and focused on what what the Lord's Supper reminded us of (the death of Jesus on the cross), I found my mind focused on sin and its consequences. As we sang "Jesus paid it all," I wondered how powerful a love that took all the pain of all the sin of all mankind unjustly on Himself. As He hung on that cross the pain of the nails and the intense physical suffering were nothing in comparison to taking on the pain of the sins of this world, including mine. Every sin has a consequence. Some immediately evident, others more indirect. Sin has a relatively short term reward at a great long term price. Sin causes grief, suffering, brokenness, separation, mistrust, defeat, and death. Sin gives a hard, gut wrenching punch.
God brought to mind what someone had said to me earlier. They felt like they had been "punched in the stomach." Through a Christian book, God had spoke to them about an area they did not realize was a sin against God and someone else. When the conviction of the sin hit them, they said it felt like a "punch in the stomach." Thankfully, in their case, it led to humbly seeking forgiveness.
Jesus absorbed all "our punches," all the consequences and pain of our sins. In an ordinary service, an extraordinary message of love came through a gut wrenching reminder of Christ's great sacrifice. Totally unanticipated, I had to leave silently, totally defense-less and in my soul gasping for breath. No recourse left, but to surrender.
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