But
1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV
(11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
“You clean up pretty good”. Like it’s some kind of ability you have– while, in fact, it has a lot to do with what you’re using to scrub with and whether or not you’re given to scrubbing. The real you just needs some revealing. There really isn’t anyone who will fail in going through the transformation from grimy and objectionable to spotless and presentable given the right soap and some new and stylish clothing. An unrecognizable makeover can be achieved with just a washcloth and some garments. For some soils it may require special solvents and for some physiques the right size and design of clothing, but there is always a way to the acceptable. One may have fallen into a nasty, muddy pit- but, there is a shower that will remove all traces of the dirt. Hands may have grease embedded in the skin, but there is a cleaner that will be most effective where normal soap may fail.
It may be true that a fall of any kind has brought on an identity that is less than acceptable. Soil may have brought on an appearance appropriate for where one has been, what they’ve been up to, and to what they’ve been exposed. But— As the old hymn declares so well, “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins, and sinner’s plunged beneath its flood lose all their guilty stains.” There really isn’t a single person that is beyond the power of this cleaner to bring about the desired transformation to cleanliness. The only ‘but’ required is that it be applied, that one be given to scrubbing. Right here and right now the shower is on and waiting for all hearts to know what it’s like to ’clean up pretty good’, clothed in His righteousness and presentable before His throne of grace. But…….
