“The world breaks everyone.”
—Ernest Hemingway

American writer Ernest Hemingway had an uncanny ability to penetrate the truth quickly. In these four words, Hemingway gets to the heart of why we need the hope of Scripture and the grace of Jesus Christ, says Mike Foster, a recent guest at a Q Cast hosted at American Bible Society’s Atrium.

The Q forum, hosted by Q President Gabe Lyons, invites people to dialogue about church, culture and society.

In this Q cast, Foster explored Hemingway’s words, saying, “We all have loss, pain and struggle—not just those who are in prison or in recovery. We all have levels of brokenness in our lives, and that’s the reason for the gospel and for Jesus.”

As I pondered these words, I thought about the stories from Scripture in which Jesus restores our brokenness and heals our pain. One of my favorites is the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery, a crime punishable by stoning.

As the elders bring her to Jesus, I imagine the scene. She is probably half naked, ineffectually clutching her garment around her. She is probably scared and horrified that her private sin has brought her public shame.

Jesus doesn’t reproach her. Instead, he etches words on the ground with his finger and encourages those without sin to throw the first stone. The elders—once fired with vengeance and indignation—leave quietly, until only Jesus and the woman are left.

“’Where is everyone?’” Jesus asks, as he stands up. “’Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?’”

“’No, sir,’” the woman answered.

Then Jesus told her, ‘I’m not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin any more.’” John 8, 10-11 (CEV)

In this passage from Scripture, Jesus doesn’t judge the woman, but instead tells her not to sin again. How did she feel? It doesn’t say, but I can only imagine how grateful she must have felt because this rabbi saved her life and restored her dignity.

And this God of Second Chances does the same for me every day. He is the ultimate restorer, the ultimate lover, my Lord Jesus Christ.