Jesus Washes Me
Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. (John 6:37)
Imagine this: You bring your car to the carwash. Should you go clean the car first before you take it to the carwash, because it’s embarrassing to the washer?
Obviously not! They expect your car to be filthy. They’re happy to clean it for you. Recently it’s come to my attention that this is a common way of thinking among many Christians that keep them from knowing God.
The Paradox of God’s Holiness
Many think that because God is holy and perfect, that we are too unworthy to come to Him when we aren’t somehow put together or feel like we’re in a good state to come to Him.
And while it’s true that God is holy, it would still be a mistake to think that we could actually do anything to make ourselves even an inch closer to being worthy to come to Him.
Given His purity, and our helpless sinful state, it is ridiculous to think that we could, at any level, make ourselves holier in God’s eyes.
Jesus is the Only Way
However I must emphasize that the only reason we could come to God in our broken human condition is this: Jesus. Because He has laid down His life for us, His blood cleanses us. And as we put our faith in Him, His perfect righteousness, becomes ours. That’s it. No other way.
In fact, it is Jesus Himself who washes us! (John 13:1–5)
The Antidote to Striving
The only thing we can really do, is to humble ourselves before Him; and humbling ourselves should practically be the opposite of anything effortful.
Like the carwash image, it’s the same thing with God.
If we feel messed up, overcome with guilt and filthy because of our sin, then all the more is God longing to welcome us. God delights to be our Savior. Our God is a humble King.
Let Him Cleanse You
If you’ve been chasing after idols, He knows just how filthy your heart has become. Yet He wants to cleanse you in Jesus.
God doesn’t need you to be spotless to come, He just wants you to be honest.
Come humbly, as you are. And He will welcome you with open arms.
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
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We are vessels made to be occupied by one thing only. We can deny self and choose Christ, or deny Christ and choose self. It will always be one or the other.