Coming Clean

We all have things we don’t like to clean up after. Our desks. Dirty dishes. Laundry. The car. Emotional messes or consequences from careless words. Cleaning up, in any sense of the concept, is hard work.

As a mother of a preschooler, one of my least-favorite messes to clean up is the “I was too busy playing to stop and go potty” messes’ that my daughter sometimes likes to share with me. How easy it is to allow frustration and irritation to build in these moments, wishing that this would never happen, or if it must, just one last time.

But, we aren’t like that, are we? Our sin isn’t like that. We’re dirty, messy, and often weary.

Paul Miller, in his book A Praying Life, says,

“Jesus didn’t come for the righteous. He came for sinners. All of us qualify. The very things we try to get rid of – our weariness, our distractedness, our messiness – are all what get us in the front door! That’s how the Gospel works… In bringing yourself to Jesus, you give Him the opportunity to work on the real you… God would much rather deal with the real thing. Jesus said He came for sinners, for messed-up people who keep messing up (Luke 15:1-2). Come dirty!” (33-34)

This truth encouraged me greatly the other day. I could hardly wait for my daughter to wake up, so that I could share with her how the Lord was admonishing me! When she woke, I embraced her tenderly and enthusiastically and said, “Honey, no matter how many times you get dirty, I will always be here to help you clean up. And, the same is true with Jesus and your sin! You can come to Him with a dirty heart, full of sin, and He will clean you as you trust in His work on the cross!” She seemed encouraged and consequently had a much better day – we both did, keeping this bigger picture in perspective.

This leads me to recall the priests’ regular sacrifices prior to Christ’s finished work on the cross. Never sufficient in reaching the hearts of the people, the sacrifices were merely an outward symbol for cleansing. Their attempts were done repeatedly yet never fully atoned for sin. But, Christ, in His great work of salvation on the cross, has atoned for sin once for all!

Our Great High Priest, who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), who offers grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16), is all-sufficient! He offered Himself once for all so that there is no need to do it again – no need for Atonement Day each year. His Work is completely done. And, He is able to save us forever because He ministers before the Father forever. He has the power to hold and keep us, despite our on-going failings. He remembers our sin no more. This is true and eternal forgiveness. The barrier has been torn, and we can now boldly come.

This should encourage us! Despite our on-going failings, because of Christ’s Work on the cross, I am extended continual grace and mercy. This is the same grace and mercy I want to grasp in light of my own sin, and also extend to others, even when it’s messy.

We’ve been reading a book with our daughter recently, and it has become one of her favorites. It is called The Priest with Dirty Clothes (http://www.ligonier.org/store/the-priest-with-dirty-clothes-hardcover/) by R.C. Sproul. It’s about a priest who can’t approach the King because His clothes are ruined. After trying every possible means and failing, the priest visits the Great Prince, his only possible hope to stand before the King. It’s a great story of Christ’s righteousness standing in our place before God, and I highly recommend it to every family!

So, if you’re a believer in Christ, be encouraged – He has declared you righteous! And, all the cleaning-up you think you have yet to do, and even get discouraged by, be assured that He’s already done it for you. It’s completely done! We can come to Him, just as we are, and know that our standing is secure.

“But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)