Lepers No More

Introduction

Ex-convicts in general, and former sex offenders in particular, are treated as outcasts in modern society. Once a person is assigned a label of “ex-convict”, “felon”, or “sex offender”, they are set up for many unique lifetime challenges and trials other people typically do not endure.

Internally, they are burdened with guilt and shame over their past, and are often hopeless to think anything good could ever come of their lives. Externally, they are treated by the world as if they were “less than”, “separated”, “unclean”, “damaged goods”, and “disfigured”. People often become fearful in their presence, and assume that they can’t or won’t ever change. In a remarkably striking sense, they might be considered as modern day “lepers”.

Many of us first heard of lepers, and leprosy as a disease, from reading the Bible or hearing Bible stories as children. In Biblical days, once a person was diagnosed as having leprosy they had to keep their head shaved and their clothes torn. They were considered “outcasts” from society. The Hebrew custom of tearing one’s clothing was an expression of extraordinary emotion, usually of grief, terror, or horror. The tearing of one’s clothes was also an expression of anger or despair. Among the people, they had to maintain a distance and constantly cry out, “unclean”!

“Leprosy was the scourge of the ancient world. Nothing evoked more fear, more dread, or more revulsion than the sight of these walking dead. That is what a leper was called, a walking dead man. The smell of his decaying flesh would announce his coming long before the tattered scraps of his clothing would be seen, or his raspy "Unclean! Unclean!" announcement he was required to declare, could be heard. The stumbling shuffle of toeless feet, the wandering of sightless eyes and the moan of a cheekless mouth, all pointed to Leprosy, this unseen attacker that slowly destroyed human bodies, and made the individual an untouchable to society.” (from Christianity.com as of 5/4/21)

In contrast to the rest of society, Jesus was neither repulsed by, nor fearful of, lepers in His time of ministry here on Earth. He allowed them into His close Presence; and, listened to, touched, healed, blessed and loved them. Jesus is still seeking and saving the lost, even those of us who are labeled felons, ex-convicts or sex offenders – modern day “lepers”.

Of course, He is also seeking and saving those who have never been incarcerated - addicts, liars, cowards, gossipers, adulterers, idolaters, thieves, drunkards, swindlers; as well as the immoral, proud and covetous. Jesus loves us all, and wants us to choose to follow Him, and fall forever in love with Him.

God the Father sent Jesus to willingly give up his life, paying the ultimate price for all our sin for all time.  To those who truly repent, receive Him, believe Him and confess Him, the resurrected and living Christ gives us His Holy Spirit to live in us! Christ in us and us in Him! As we truly surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord, and submit to the Leadership of the Holy Spirit, He takes away our guilt, shame and regret over our past. We are set free from the curse of society’s labels. Truly, we are lepers no more!

How can all this be real in your life? Let’s find out…