As much as I love white, it’s a sure thing that I’m getting one wear out of whatever it is before it makes its way to my laundry basket. I was having a conversation with someone about this and was glad to learn that I wasn’t alone. I don’t know if I’m neater when I wear other colors or messier when I wear white. Or am I more conscious of my mess when I wear white since it stands out more?
I overheard a conversation between three coworkers that had to do with a similar topic. Generally speaking, it was about cleanliness. There was a discussion about how often one showers and that segued into how often you should launder your bed linen and your pillows. The conversation reminded me of one that I once had during a bible study. Instead of how often we should launder something, it focused more on the feeling that you get when you are clean.
I don’t know about you, but I often find it so rewarding to be in a clean environment. Likewise after a nice refreshing shower. It’s like I’m more aware of dirt. Just like when I’m wearing white or bright clothing. I’m more cautious. I observe my garments more often. And I’m quicker to land that clothing in the laundry basket than I am with darker clothing. I also notice that once I and/or my clothing are clean, it seems like such a struggle to remain that way. It’s like dirt is attracted to that pristine white shirt! But I always start my day out determined to remain blemish free!
That determination to stay clean is no different from the one we should carry for our spirit as well. Our awareness of unrighteousness should not only stand out more, but we should desire to dissociate ourselves from it. I don’t watch televangelists or anything like that. But one day while I was on vacation flipping through television channels as I waited for my mom to get ready, I landed on a program that I think was called Ask the Pastor. It was a group of men on the screen dialoguing and answering some questions that they received. I don’t know much about the show and I’ll be honest enough to say that I did not seek it out in the future. What I do remember, however, is one of the men responding to a question with the example of a pig and a sheep, I believe. To paraphrase the whole exchange, it was to say that a pig feels comfortable with the filth. It has a desire to wallow in the mud. That’s its nature. To be one that is seeking after righteousness (cleanliness), then I need to feel uncomfortable with the dirt. Let’s face it. A Tide to Go pen won’t zap out spots or wrinkles on our spiritual garments.
That stuck with me because of how true it is for us both naturally and spiritually. If God’s desire is to wash me and make me white as snow, then I don’t want to pursue things that make a challenge for me to remain that way. Have you ever been in an uncomfortable environment or situation? I have. I always end up in physical pain after because I’m so tense with the discomfort! Even in some situations it’s like your skin is crawling and you just want to get out of wherever you are. That is unrighteousness. The danger is when you don’t realize you are living in squalor.
Intent is important here. Let’s face it, even for the tidiest person in the world, accidents and unexpected things happen that cause a blot of dirt or a speck of dust to surface in your spic and span environment. The same can be said for us spiritually. Try as we might, perfection is something many of us have not attained. So being washed by God with the blood of Jesus is something that we need. Daily. It is essential if I want my garments to remain spotless.
Stay Sunny! (and squeaky clean too!)
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