I Belong to You

At a Bible study I attended about two years ago, a question was brought up. A simple question, one that might float in the back of one's mind as one of those "so, I was just wondering.." questions. But one that silenced many into deep thought.

If Satan captured the world in sin, how did Christ get the world back?

The asker went on to clarify that he knew Christ had redeemed the world, but was curious as to how exactly it had worked.

I'll admit, I got rather frustrated because I can usually answer questions like that pretty quickly. Definitely a pride thing. If you know me, you know fully well that I like being right. I sat in my chair, silently frustrated, as others around me discussed possible answers.

Truthfully, after a few minutes, I stopped listening. I let my mind wander through different possibilities. I felt God pressing two words on my mind. China shop. I heard it over and over again. Then, randomly (by the world's terms... nothing is random with God), the phrase, "like a bull in a china shop" popped in my head. A bull in a china shop. The pace of my mind picked up. The thoughts that formed in my mind can only be explained through God. Truthfully, I don't think I could've formed the metaphor my mind formed without God placing the exact thoughts in my head.

The discussion around me continued. By now, I was staring at the floor, eyes wide. Elbows on my knees, chin in my hands. Timidly, I sat up and raised my hand.

After clarifying the question that was asked, I took a deep breath, a shared what God had shown me.

God created the world. Thus, the world became His.

Imagine for just a moment that the world is a china shop and we are the china.

God is the shopkeeper.
Everything is beautiful. Every piece perfect.

There's a phrase that says "he was like a bull in a china shop".

Imagine what would happen if a bull was let loose in the china shop. Every piece would be broken. Shattered.

Does this mean that the bull now owns the china shop?

No.

Just because someone destroys something of yours, doesn't mean that it no longer belongs to you.

Now, imagine that once the bull has done his dark deeds, the shopkeeper doesn't abandon the china shop and look for a new one to keep.

No.

He gathers every piece, one by one, and repairs everything.

God is the shopkeeper.

We are the china.

Satan is the bull.
Satan destroyed the world as God created it.

Because of sin, we are all like broken china.
Hopeless.
Without purpose.

But God wants to repair us.
The china shop that is the world is His, and He wants to repair every broken soul.

And all you have to do is let Him.

We belong to God. We are His, and He is ours. Let Him in your life.

You won't regret it.