I happen to be at a place in life where I don't spend a lot of time doing laundry. But I know some folks who do. And those who spend a lot of time doing laundry will tell you that some substances are especially difficult to wash out of clothes -- especially white or lightly colored clothes. For example, fruit juices from pomegranates, cherries, and strawberries are difficult to clean. The same is true for grease stains and marks caused by many kinds of ink.
But there aren't many stains tougher than blood stains. In fact, for a lot of people who do laundry, attempting to clean something stained with blood is simply a problem not worth solving.
Of course, there are some tips and tricks that have been handed down throughout the generations. Even I've heard of one or two! Some people recommend washing the clothes in cold water, for example. Others rely on different combinations of salt, ammonia, and baking soda. Still others use meat tenderizers to break down the proteins in blood and allow for easier cleaning.
Why am I interested in blood and stains? Because they remind me of one of the more important promises recorded in God's Word:
“Come, let us discuss this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
In order to process the power of this biblical promise, we need to spend a minute on a topic a lot of people find uncomfortable: sin. The basic definition of sin is anything that moves us away from God and His will for the world. We sin when we allow our own desires and plans to take priority over God's instructions or move against His character.
There are lots of theological inroads and cul-de-sacs we could wander through when it comes to discussing sin as a doctrine. However, my experiences have taught me that most people have a pretty good idea about sin simply based on our own experiences. Deep down, we know something isn't right with the world -- something is off center.
Similarly, we understand that something is wrong with us, as well. We're not the people we're supposed to be. We're broken in some way.
One of the primary messages of the Bible is that we can't fix what's broken inside us. We can't undo the corruption of sin. Again, that's a frightening prospect to grapple with. But there's good news. Another major message of the Bible is that God can fix what's broken inside us. God can provide forgiveness for our sin and make us new again.
That's the message of Isaiah 1:18 -- that God can make us clean. Better, God wants to make us clean. He offers us the chance to have our stains removed.
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
This is a lovely promise -- and an incredible gift.
Ironically, God's own blood is the agent through which our sins can be cleansed. Jesus' death on the cross opened the way for our forgiveness. His blood removes the stain of our rebellion against Him and makes us clean.
No comments:
Post a Comment