The Shorey home was without water for three days. Our water pipe leading from the house to the road had become brittle and broken. Because this happened on a weekend, what might have been possible to repair in two days stretched into a three day project. But just as the plumber promised, on Monday the backhoe arrived and the digging began. By Monday evening the dishwasher, washing machine and showers were all running in full force.
We didn't suffer. Inconvenienced, yes. But suffer? Hardly. We weren't without a store where we could buy bottled water, and we had access to a nearby shower, and we spent one night with friends. All in all we cannot complain. We know God was in it. Hopefully today when the bill arrives we won't complain either.
As we were doing life here the past three days it became obvious to me how dependent I am on water. Not just for drinking or cooking but for cleaning. Not just for the big cleaning jobs, or mountains of laundry or a pile of dishes. We are dependent on water for rinsing and washing our hands.
It was interesting to me how many times my hands were in need of washing. I hadn't realized how often I go to rinse my hands. Was it just because I didn't have running water that I was especially in "need" of it? Or had I been functioning unaware of how often my hands are dirty and thereby taken for granted the blessing to walk a few steps, turn on the faucet and experience the loveliness of washed hands. Throughout a day our hands become soiled, sticky, and stained and we hardly even notice because we can easily receive cleansing from fresh water and soap. What a blessing. Even now as I sit here typing I am aware of the fresh feeling of clean hands. Again, what a blessing.
God uses the analogy of washing to describe our need of His removal of our sins. How wonderful to have His cleansing always available to us. We do not need to wait for the day of atonement, or a confessional booth. We have God's cleansing, the blood of Christ, for every sin throughout every day. So whether we have fallen deeply into sin, or need once again to be cleansed from a prideful thought, or an angry word to our children, and impatient spirit toward a husband, or a demanding spirit toward God we can and we must, go quickly to find the needed cleansing for our souls.
There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day. And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away. (William Cowper)
Just as we often experience a need to wash our physical hands, may we become more and more aware of the stains on our spiritual hands and enjoy the blessing of cleansing from the fountain of forgiveness and grace.
3 comments:
You remind me of my freshman year of college, where we had the excitement of Hurricane Ivan roll through Pensacola. We had no water (toilets, showers, sinks, etc), no AC (in Florida!!), the most horrible emergency food ever, and lots of people in close contact with each other. We dumb college students thought it was a great time... but that first shower when the water finally came back is one of my favorite memories ever.
And once you're clean, you're clean. I think God has been showing me lately that I don't have to doubt His forgiveness. When people wash their hands over and over and over again, we call that OCD. But as the psalmist says, "Wash me, and I whiter than snow." No more cleaning necessary.
Thank you Jenn for being sure to bring a clarifying thought to my post. When God redeems us through the blood of Jesus Christ we are perfectly clean (justified). "No more cleaning necessary" as you say. God sees us as righteous. It is because of the conviction I feel in my heart, from the sin of my thoughts and my actions and my motives I go to that fountain again to find "mercy and grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.
It's similar to John 13:10 where Jesus says that those who are bathed need only to wash their feet. They're clean but need a kind of touch up washing. Thankfully we are clean and can be cleaned at the same time.
Thank you for this post--especially what you said about going to the Lord 'quickly' for cleansing.
I often struggle with going to the Lord without first cleaning up my act (as if I can even do so).
Pride.
I love the song we often sing at TFC, 'Come Ye Sinners,' especially the verse that says, "If you tarry 'til you're better, you will never come at all."
Post a Comment