Here's a great description of the Ch!ne$e character for the word "righteous" (or righeousness):
The top character in the picture represents the word "lamb." The bottom word represents the word "me." The compound word is pronounced "ee" (as in "me"). The Ch!ne$e word for "righteous" is "lamb over me." Amazing!
God is sovereign over His creation. In the early generations of mankind, the people tried to exert their independence from God and to engage in the idolatry of self by erecting the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). In response God confused the people by creating many different languages and by dispersing them. As a result, the sovereignty of God and His plan of redemption for members of the human race can now be seen in the intricacies of the Ch!neSe language.
The Ch!ne$e word for "righteous" is packed with biblical theology. "Lamb over me." Do you hear it? Do you see it?
The Bible makes it clear that there is none who is righteous (Romans 3:10-12). Only God is good (Matt. 19:17). Even on our best day, all of our deeds are like filthy garments to the Holy One who created the universe (Isa. 64:6). All have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). And all sin is against God (Psalm 51:3-4).
(I borrowed it from this blog. You can read the story in full...)
This is our God! I am in awe as I consider the lengths he goes to in order to reveal himself to people. He is patient - not willing that any should perish. Every day that the Father doesn't send his Son to gather us up, 30,000 Ch!ne$e come to know Him!
All of that to explain this:
I got it on Saturday. My prayer is that God will use it to remind me that all of my righteousness is like dirty rags - but that under the Lamb, I am righteous. And that maybe - he might give me an opportunity to share His Truth with someone through having it - visible (on my right forearm).
This is so ironic (I guess ...) because I was checking in to see if you guys are still selling the Righteousness drawings. We want one! Been reading about Abraham ... we want that kind of faith, complete, radical trust that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do, no questions asked, no strings attached, no 'give me just a little control' kind of deal! I like the tattoo, even though I don't think I'd have the courage to do it ;-)
Love you all!
Posted by: connie | March 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I got my nose pierced on Saturday and have NO awesome testimony to go along with it! Shoot! Love the tatoo! Still planning to use your wonderful post from a couple months back (Hardships of adoption and why we do it)in our information packets at our church's first adoption conference on April 19th! Hooray and to God be ALL THE GLORY!!
Tanya
Posted by: Tanya | March 17, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Love the meaning....and I would bet you will get lots of opportunities to share about it! Love you!
Posted by: Wendy | March 18, 2009 at 07:03 AM
It is very interesting how there are several Chinese characters like that that point to knowledge of Christ or Biblical truths back when the Chinese alphabet was in the process of being created.
I couldn't figure out what part of the body the tatoo was. The back of your leg (sort of hairy - but maybe it was Chris'?) but then Al said it was the wrist. Oh, I see it now. And it is very cool - what a way to share!
Debby
Posted by: Debby Graber | March 18, 2009 at 08:15 PM