"WASH ME"

It’s funny how God inspires us through the simplest things. Like for me, today, it was while I was wiping down my vehicle after a car wash.

The gauge of my vehicle’s fuel tank was on ‘E’. I’m a ‘fair-weather filler’ so today was the day to fuel up because a cold front is coming our way this weekend. Then, I noticed not only do I need fuel- I need to wash, vacuum and clean out this kid-hauling road beast!

We’ve had a lot of road trips this fall. Long car rides to the farm for hunting weekends with a family of five and it doesn’t take long to make our vehicle GROSS. We’ve eaten meals and drinks, the kids have eaten candy, and then there was equipment for swimming, basketball and golf. There were bits and pieces of many small hidden things from sucker sticks and candy wrappers to hair bobbles and a pair of swim trunks. There was even a marble. (sigh)

After an intensive vacuuming session and the exterior washing, I grabbed a couple white towels to wipe down the vehicle. I opened the doors to quickly wipe over the doorjambs where dust from gravel roads at the farm likes to seep into the interior frame. The white towels turned into filthy rags even though the exterior of the vehicle was like new- so shiny and clean. I was amazed at the dirt within the doors themselves. This triggered me into thinking about sin and how it can creep into cracks and go unnoticed if we’re not aware.

Like my shiny clean car on the outside, people can look perfect too. We can act like we have it all together. We show ‘outward signs’ of our ‘goodness’ by taking our kids to church, donating, volunteering or never missing church. We are squeaky clean on the outside, but unfortunately no matter how hard we work at it- we are still sinners-every one of us.

When we sin, we are like my vehicle after a long road trip: dirty, crumby and grimy and God can’t be close to us because He is holy, righteous and pure. God desires to have fellowship with us. He’s wanted that relationship since the creation of Adam. But, sin separates us from God.

I am not even close to holy and I was disgusted with my gross vehicle and I really wanted it to be like new again so I could enjoy it fully. Do you suppose that’s how God is with us (only He IS holy)? Jesus needs to clean us- wash away all of our grime and yuck and make us like new again so He can enjoy being with us.

Is Jesus doing your detailing? Allow him to degrease your doorjambs. Ask Him to show things to you that you don’t recognize as sin. He’ll clean out those crevices of your heart. God is all knowing. He knows every deep dark secret of your heart. He sees the filth stuck in your interior frame. The stuff we think is ‘okay’ or ‘not that big’ of a sin can creep in like dust from a gravel road and corrode us.

Dust, pollutants and dirt are harmful for our cars and cause corrosion. Following our own desires can make us rusty and break us down. (Our family has an ‘airport vehicle’ exposed to the elements of the world 365 days a year- it’s full of rust- not a good thing for the life of a vehicle.) Sin is doing what we desire (our feelings) rather than doing what God wants us to do.

Now friends, don’t run out and get a tattoo that reads, “WASH ME” if you’re a bit dirty. There is an Ultimate Wash Package! We are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ.

We confess asking for forgiveness and then we must turn away from our sins. But, just like my family in our vehicle… we are conscious of keeping it clean but eventually it gets messed up again in different areas and different ways through the busyness of life. And that’s okay because we have the Ultimate Wash Package- and Jesus already paid for all sins. Every time it rains, snows or storms it can get really messed up especially on the outside and everyone can see our dirt. We can wash and clean it but it just keeps getting messy through the seasons of life. And every time the faithfulness of God shines through!

One thing I love about studying God’s word is it is everlasting. Things never get messy with God. He is same yesterday, today and forever. We can’t say that about anything else in life, everything changes or doesn’t last. Put on the protective sealant from God, stay connected and have assurance that He will wash you again and again in His Ultimate Wash if you ask Him to and completely protect you from the effect sin has on your life.

Isaiah 64:6 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”

Acts 22: 16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”