He has torn, that He may heal.

"My strength fails because of my iniquity and my bones waste away." Psalm 31:10b

Our sin is visceral.  It is not a stain that can be scrubbed away or dirt that can be lightly brushed from the surface.  When God removes it, he must penetrate to our very core and rip it from us.  It is painful.  It is debilitating.  Sin is in our bones and so they must be crushed to remove it.  He has torn us that he may heal us.  

The condition of our hearts is more horrific than we can imagine on our darkest day.  This truth is lacerating; the sting of thorns tearing unprotected flesh.  When we think we have overcome a particular sin it will rally with vengeance.  The moment we believe ourselves to have beaten it, is the moment when we can be most sure we have not.

But Grace is the sweet salve that soothes these wounds.  It is the conquering hope because it does not just soothe, or heal, but replaces mutilated flesh with something new.

Yet, I am a sinner, through and through.  I can labor, but it will be in vain.  I can do good, but it will never be enough.  For every sin I defeat there will be 100 more.  I can never stand before God with clean hands.  So, I will bow before Him covered in grace.  I will forever sing, "nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling."   

So, I'll stand in faith by grace, and grace alone.  I will run the race by grace, and grace alone.  I will slay my sin by grace, and grace alone.  I will reach the end by grace, and grace alone.