This blog is named “Raising My Ebenezer” because it is a place I can memorialize in a way lessons I’ve learned, stories, and people important in my life. Ebenezer is often defined as “stones of remembrance.”
This weekend, while walking around Hollywood, I found something that I would not want to archive for the memories. The Museum of Broken Relationships. Really? We didn’t go in so I can’t attest to what is in that building. According to their website they take and display (anonymously) items from anyone who experienced brokenness with a person, a location or a life situation. The donor is encouraged to share their story of the item.
It’s an interesting idea. I’ve had broken relationships with people, and there are places I left with heartache. It is painful. Neither are something I want to spend time remembering. Yes – they certainly have helped me learn and grow – but I see them more as stepping stones than stones of remembrance.
Actually, there is one relationship that had been broken and has now been restored that I do want to identify, remember and share. It’s my relationship with Jesus. God created me to have relationship with Him, but my sinful heart said my way was better. So for a time I went my own way.
God in His faithfulness and love pursued me. He continued to woo me back to Him. He won! Because He gave his only son Jesus to settle and heal our broken relationship I can now call God my Father, even my Abba Daddy; and Jesus is my brother. The Bible says I am a joint heir with Jesus (I am entitled to everything Jesus is entitled to as the only son of God).
The empty cross and tomb are the only symbols I need of a broken relationship now restored!
Romans 8:6-11 in the New Living Translation
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.