Laundry

A household chore that is performed over and over is laundry. Clothes that have been worn must be washed, dried, folded or placed on hangers and then put away. This process is repeated regularly (in some cases daily) in homes everywhere. Even with the convenience of a washer and dryer, there is a routine to follow. Close must first be sorted. Whites can be washed in hot water using soap and chlorine bleach when necessary. Darker colors are washed in warm water and bright colors must be washed in cold. Neither of these loads would contain bleach or the colors would be drastically faded. Spotting often occurs when bleach comes in contact with a colored fabric. Careful sorting is simply part of the routine of washing clothes.

Occasionally a small piece of clothing can get mixed in with a load of another color. One red T-shirt can turn an entire load of whites into pinks. Hot water and bleach can drain the dye from that one shirt and disperse it through the water where it comes in contact with the white clothes. The end result is less than desirable. The load often must be done over with more soap and more bleach to whiten the tinted clothing.

We are to live lives that are clean and pure. King David begged the Lord, “Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:2-3 AMP) Sin enters our lives and dulls that purity. We cannot clean ourselves up, but must allow God to do so through salvation in Jesus Christ. David continued on in his plea, “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7 AMP) We trust God to make our hearts clean.

Scripture tells us that we had been cleansed by the blood of the perfect lamb, Jesus Christ. “But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:19 AMP) Jesus gave his life on the cross for His bride. “So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,” (Ephesians 5:26 AMP) All who believe in Jesus and follow His teaching have been made clean. “You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].” (John 15:3 AMP)

 We cannot live our lives attempting to partially follow God. We must determine in our hearts to follow all of His ways. We cannot choose to mostly follow the precepts of God but add in a little extra. Even a little sin can act like that red T-shirt and color our entire lives. The apostle Paul compares this principle of sin permeating our entire being to the yeast and dough. “A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].” (Galatians 5:9 AMP) It is very clear that our entire lives will be affected by holding onto just a little unconfessed sin. James spoke to this subject even more directly. “For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.” (James 2:10 AMP) Sin colors our entire being.

 Remaining pure is not a hopeless endeavor. We often stumble and fall short of God’s plan. We must simply admit when we do wrong. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” (1 John 1:9 AMP) When our desire is to follow the Lord, He shows us the sin that we must confess and turn away from. We simply agree with God when he points out areas that need to change. He will then happily make us clean. “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 AMP)

Don’t try to live life holding onto just a little bit of sin. Sort through your thoughts and actions.  Allow the Lord to lead and make you clean.