CLEAN ENOUGH?

Isaiah 6:1-8
1 I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings. . . . 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!

Imagine for a moment that your close friend is a surgeon. You set up an appointment to "do lunch." You show up on time--precisely at 11:30 a.m.

At the reception desk you are told that the good doctor is finishing up triple-bypass surgery and will be a few more minutes. You look at the wall clock that reads 11:49 a.m. Concerned about being stuck in the crowd at the restaurant, you decide to talk to the doctor in person. You walk directly into the surgery room and crowd in between the surgeon and the nurse who is assisting him with the instruments.

"How much longer do you think you are going to be?" you ask, looking at your watch. You then turn your eyes to your friend who is wearing a mask, robe, and surgical gloves.

This illustration points out the absurdity of two different concepts of "clean enough." For you, being clean means having taken your daily shower, wearing clean clothes, and washing your hands. In your own eyes, you are certainly acceptable.

But in the eyes of the surgical team (and the one being operated on) you are ill-prepared to come into their presence. You bring in unwanted bacteria on the bottom of your shoes, you exhale germs into the air, and your clean clothes dispel other microscopic creatures.

There is a biblical parallel to this. Centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah, standing in the presence of a holy God, realized that he was not spiritually "clean enough" (Isaiah 6:3). Seeing the radiance of God's holiness made him aware of his own sinful imperfections (v.5).

God has provided a way, however, for us to be cleansed and made ready to enter His presence in joyous reunion. "God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Your good works will not get you into heaven but being cleansed by the blood of Jesus will. --Dennis Fisher

DESTINATION POINTS

* What stands out to me in the parallel between the surgery room and God's presence?
* Why do so many people try to trust in their own good works instead of Jesus' payment for their sin?
* Is there someone I know who needs to hear about God's gift of cleansing and eternal life?

LINKS:
Would you like to know how you can have a personal relationship with God?
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/salvation

bottom line: Only in Jesus are we made completely clean.

soul journey