Forgiveness Like A Crown

There is a song that we sing at my church back home, one that I have written about before. Its been on my mind lately, and I feel like its very appropriate during Holy Week.

The chorus says, "I trade my ashes in for beauty and wear forgiveness like a crown. Coming to kiss the feet of mercy, I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross." In those two sentences, the importance of this week is explained. Without Jesus, I am nothing; my life is soot and ash. Yet, because of Jesus' work through the cross and resurrection, I can not only approach Him, surrender my burdens to Him, and walk freely in Him, but I wear forgiveness like a crown. I think about how to wear a crown, and it involves keeping one's head held high, proudly and confidently, secure in the knowledge of what you have and what it means. And when I think of wearing forgiveness like a crown,  that same image comes to mind, yet there is no responsibility, no shame - just forgiveness, joy, hope, and love.

If someone is wearing a crown, there is no doubt about it being there. Its pretty obvious. And I think about that with forgiveness. I wear forgiveness like a crown. It is undoubtedly there - I have undoubtedly and securely been forgiven. And even more, God displays that forgiveness on me through my life, choosing to use me to display the gift of the cross and the empty tomb to the world.