TOUGH SINS? NO PROBLEM.

    

     Some years ago, precisely in 2013, I was vigorously struggling to get a tough stain off my sparkling white shirt. I did employ the use of Jik and Ariel detergent with hot water to wear the stain down, including disinfectants. But I failed, woefully. The stain was still there, visible, making a nuisance of itself on the white cotton material. I didn’t want to let it go, I loved it so much; it was topping the chart of my favourite outfits. And I thought: “I haven’t used it well enough to lose it”.

After days and days of meticulous washing, I decided to let it go for good, or out of frustration for my inability to salvage it.

        Then I was suddenly struck by an amazing truth, one which filled my heart with intense joy and satisfaction. Christ NEVER stops short of purifying even the tough stains of sin in my life. The reality that He came to take the sins of the world once and for all is the beautiful truth that gives me hope. Paul Tripp reveals this truth when he said, “There’s no life so deeply and so tragically sinful that it’s beyond the reach of God’s amazing rescuing grace”.

I am constantly accosted with the thoughts that some sin stains are just too tough even for Christ’s blood. But this cannot be further from the truth. The efficacy of His cleansing blood isn’t dependent on the toughness or otherwise of the stain of the sin, not remotely. His blood cleanses ALL sin-laced fabric.

Sometimes I feel so far gone in my sin that I think there’s no respite for me, but the vividness of the bible on what Christ does for me dispels every such feeling. Isaiah 1:18 says:

“Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out.” This is God’s message: “If your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow white. If they’re red like crimson, they’ll be like wool.”

Nothing can best that offer. It is not a poor attempt to get the stains off; it is the power to give me a clean slate. Roy Davison says quite aptly, “Water and many solvents are used to wash away physical dirt, but only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from sin”.

      So when I find myself brooding over if my hide is tough as to render my sins irremovable so that I can sparkle with this brightness that comes after a good wash, I think and run to Jesus Christ who washes me completely. Spotless. Stainless. Tough sins? No problem.