Cleaner than ‘Clean’

                                               

            “I’ve been clean for six months!” These words are not uncommon among those who reside at our Rescue Mission in Youngstown, OH. Such testimonies are literally applauded during a chapel service where someone is celebrating freedom from alcohol or drugs. “Clean” means they have not had a drink or drug “fix” for six months, which is a tremendous milestone to one who knows the devastating power of drug addiction.

            “Clean” is a beautiful word. In the physical realm, it speaks of purity, health, clarity, freedom from disease. What is more powerfully descriptive than Jesus “cleansing the ten lepers?” The Bible also uses this word to depict one’s inner spiritual condition after saving grace has come. Jesus said, “Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (Jno. 15:3)

This is deeper than mere body cleansing; rather it describes a purging of the soul from sin, an inner purification through the miraculous “new birth.” (Jno. 3:3) Here is a transforming work of God whereby a “new heart” (spiritual nature) is put in place; this new, undefiled nature now is capable of manifesting genuine love for God and man.

            I’m “clean” not only from sinful habits, but from the bondage and condemnation of sin. Since Jesus “paid it all” on the Cross, I have been delivered and purged from sin’s defilement. The prophet Isaiah said, “Come, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa.1:18) No matter what the stain, the blood of Christ can make “the foulest clean.”

            As a young, inner-city boy, I had a “junk” business collecting old papers, rags and metal. When I first took rags to the junk dealer, he immediately began to empty the sack containing rags of all colors. I wondered why he was so intent in seeing my multi-color display. He then made it clear that he would accept any color rag but red; he said the paper factory could get the colors blue, yellow, green, etc. out of any rag, but could not get the red out!

This bit of my personal history lay dormant for years until I read Isaiah’s words, “Though your sins be as scarlet (red), they shall be as white as snow.” God has made provision to cleanse the indelible crimson stains of sin! God alone can “get the red out.” The hymn writer issues this personal challenge:

            “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?” (Chorus):

            “Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

It must be quickly stated that this ongoing cleansing is not automatic. As Jesus said, “Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The Bible is God’s instrument of purification and growth. Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them through the Truth, Thy word is Truth.” (Jno. 17:17) What we do with the Word, God will do with us. He went on to say, “If ye continue in my word…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jno. 8:31, 32) 

Thankfully, the Word not only cleanses, but sets the believer free; thus, to have liberty in Christ is not a license to do wrong, but rather the freedom to do right! That’s as “clean” as it gets this side of Heaven.