Unconquered Territory (2)

Cast cords of love around my heart, then hold me and never let me go.

May the Saviour’s wounds sway me more than the sceptre of princes.

Let me love thee in a love that covers and swallows up all,

That I may not violate my chaste union with the beloved;

There is much unconquered territory in my nature,

Scourge out the buyers and sellers of my soul’s temple,

And give me in return, pure desires,

And longing after perfect holiness.  

The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett, Banner of Truth, page 345.

May the Saviour’s wounds sway me more than the sceptre of princes. We can be easily impressed by fame, power, position, possessions - but are we impressed by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ? What causes our hearts to bow? What demands our attention and focus? What do we think about? What is there in our lives that we simply cannot ignore? What is the compass by which we navigate?

How do the wounds of Jesus compare to the “bling” that impresses us?

While we may not live in a land that has traditional “princes” with “sceptres” - we live in both a land and world that has their equivalent; princes in politics, princes in entertainment, princes in business, princes in science, princes in education, princes in sports; we mimic these princes in our associations - from the job to the the garden club to youth sports to...sadly at times...the church. We are easily impressed, easily swayed, easily taught to imitate the princes and princesses of our society.

The closer the average person gets to the center of power, the greater the seduction to fall under the sway of that power and the greater the temptation to assimilate that power to our own advantage. Who would not prefer to be associated with power and its trappings and perquisites rather than be identified with a Man hanging on a Cross who is wounded and bleeding and virtually naked and dying? When the writer of Hebrews suggests that we ought to go “outside the camp” bearing the reproach of Jesus (Hebrews 13:13) we do not stop to ponder the exhortation lest it affect our daily lives - better to keep a private relationship (if it can be called that) with the Wounded One than to be publicly identified with Him.

Perhaps the greatest evangelist of the 20th Century wrote to the effect that one of the greatest mistakes he made was getting too close to the power of the presidency - so close that he did not think critically about what he was told, about what he saw. (Ironically, many have not learned from his admission).

What is our North Star? What or who are we identified with? How do we think about ourselves? How do we think about Jesus Christ and His command to take up our cross and follow Him...denying ourselves (Mark 8:34-38)?

Our idols cannot love us. Power cannot love us. Money cannot love us. Fame cannot love us. Education cannot love us. The love of others, as deep and as sincere as it might be - and let’s face it, sincerity and depth of love is rare - has its fractured human limitations; but the Man on the Cross, the Son of God, bears wounds which call out to us, “I love you! I love you! I love you!”

Jesus does not send us a box of chocolates, He does not send us a pretty greeting card, He does not send us cut flowers - He gives us Himself, God gives us His Son - bloody, wounded, and dying on the Cross on Good Friday...Resurrected from the Tomb on Easter.

Shall we say, “Lord Jesus, let my heart be more than swayed by You, let it captured by You, by Your love; teach me to love You, and to love others in You and through You.”