Miracle Clean
Elizabeth and I have been married for a little over ten years. We have bought two couches and two chairs for our living room. We don’t like to spend lots of money, so the furniture has moved us from Terre Haute to Madison and survived four/five dogs, our three-year-old, and let’s be real… us. If you look too closely, you might see some of the scars made by the dogs or even a couple from a spilled meal or drink from our three-year-old or maybe… even one of us…
Each time these messes happen, there is a bit of panic. We hope the stain comes out with the special cleaner and that we are more diligent and careful around the furniture—at least for a few weeks anyway.
This week, we begin looking at the letter of 1 John. As you read the first couple of chapters, it feels like a reminder lesson of the Gospel. It’s a reminder that Jesus’ life, death on the cross, and resurrection were to save us from our sins. Chapter two encourages the readers of the letter to realize that Jesus saves them from their sins since they can’t stop sinking alone. It also calls them to live holy lives, not continuing to sin.
Over the years, this has been a tricky part of our faith for me to process. How can we be incapable of holiness while being called to stop sinning? Those who don’t fully grasp the beauty of the gospel argue that this is proof we can do whatever we want. Then, those who are worried about following the letter of the law point out that we are to live absolutely perfect lives. I sit there and question how these can both be true.
The beauty is in what Christ did and taught. Jesus came and lived a life no one before Him could. He lived a sinless life that depended entirely upon the Father and then called us to place our faith in his life, sacrifice, and follow in his footsteps, also living lives dependant upon the Father. It’s like the messes we make on the couch with the twist of a perfect cleaning solution: Jesus’ life, death on the cross, and resurrection. While Jesus restores us to the Father and can continue to do so, why would we keep hurting the furniture? Why would we keep running from the Father when we can live by our savior’s example and remain in a relationship with God?
What is blocking your ability to see the Gospel clearly and desire to trust Christ’s cleaning (redemptive healing sacrifice) and live into who God created you to be?
Lord, help us realize the beauty of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, leaving behind the darkness of this world and pursuing and walking in your light. Amen