At this time of year, the sun sits directly facing our front windows highlighting the dirt that had previously gone un-noticed and reminding me of what my next job is—to clean my windows!
It’s a little bit annoying. Up until now, I didn’t realise how urgently those windows needed cleaning and the job hadn’t been on the top of my list. Now with the light shining directly through them, I can see every speck, every smudge, the relics of earlier storms, as well as deposits a bird or two left on their flight past.
As much as I’d like to ignore it I can’t, so on my “to-do” list this goes. The sooner they are cleaned, the better and the clearer things will be. I look forward to casting my eyes to an uninterrupted view of the colours and beauty outside without the disruption of dirty smudges in my eyeline.
Sometimes we need to shine a light on things
It’s easy carry on and ignore the dirt in our own lives. We can think we’re doing everything right and forget that we may be somewhat blemished. Now, I’m not talking about forgetting to take a shower. Showers are great but no matter how much we clean the outside of our bodies, earthly water just doesn’t cut it as far as the cleanliness of our souls is concerned.
In Mark chapter seven we read about the Pharisees questioning Jesus on one occasion, when they noticed the disciples didn’t wash their hands before eating. Jesus addresses this by reminding them that real dirt is what comes from the heart and is inside a person. It is this dirt which needs to be cleansed and it is not until Jesus, the Son of Man, shines his light on these areas that we can truly see the dirt for what it is and be forgiven.
Sin is a bad word
These days people don’t like to mention the word ‘sin’. It is confronting and people don’t like to think of themselves in this way. In this day and age there is a whole gamut of pretty names given to cover over and make sins of many kinds sound harmless.
However, sin is sin, no matter which way we look at it and it is anything but harmless. It is the same as it always has been whether we decorate it or not, and if we don’t acknowledge and repent from it, we will continue to live with the weight and consequences that come with it, taking us in a direction far from where God originally intended for us.
1 John chapter 1 verses 8-10 says: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Without first acknowledging the sin in our lives, we miss out on the freedom and peace that comes with repentance.
Walking in the light
“…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and so not live out the truth” (1 John chapter 1 verse 6).
There is no sin in heaven for it cannot exist in the presence of a Holy God. So, for us to be free of sin and enter into the presence of the One who loves us and has prepared a place for us, we need to acknowledge our wrongs and give them to the Saviour who paid the ultimate price once and for all.
“… if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John chapter 1 verse 7).
Jesus’ death on the cross meant that the full punishment was taken upon himself for what we did, making us clean and washing away our dirt, giving us a fresh start to live the best life we can in Him and opening up eternity for us. What an incredibly wonderful gift He has given us—it is truly mind-blowing!
Zechariah chapter 3 verses 3-4 says: “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
Garments of white
We can justify our actions until the cows come home, but unless we’re willing to acknowledge our sin and give it up to Jesus, we’re just fooling ourselves and missing out on so much.
So, it’s vitally important that we let the Son shine on us regularly to reveal the things we may not want to see so that we can ‘clean house’. Those windows will be much more enjoyable and our days will capture the full colour, the full beauty, the full sense of the world around us without dirty smudges obstructing our view.
And so we say thank you Jesus, for paying the ultimate sacrifice in giving your life for us to have life and to have it in all its fulness, even though we don’t deserve it. Such amazing love, such amazing grace!
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18).
Rebecca and her husband have four children and live on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Rebecca writes for various publications including print, online and commercial. She is the author of two books: ‘First to Forty’ and ‘Pizza and Choir’. For more information you can find Rebecca at: http://www.rebeccamoore.life, Facebook: Rebecca Moore - Author, Instagram: rebeccamoore_author
Rebecca Moore's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/rebecca-moore.html