Our son once worked with youth and briefly stayed rent-free with a family. One day, the man of the house asked him to help with some plumbing. “Plumbing? Sure. Where’s the plunger?” he asked. “No plunger needed,” came the reply. Sounded simple. Wrong. He was led to the backyard, to a septic tank. His job? Clear a blocked pipe… by reaching into the mess. Gross! When he finished, he said one thing was on his mind: a shower. He called us and summed it up: “I’ve never felt so dirty in my life, and never so good to be clean.”
That kind of clean is something someone listening might desperately need. Because feeling dirty inside, ashamed, trapped, haunted by secrets, is something we all understand. We’ve all failed, hurt people we love, done things we swore we wouldn’t. And now we wonder: how do I get clean?
That is why our word for today from the Word of God is such awesome good news. It’s written to people who know what dirty feels like. In 1 Corinthians 6, verse 9, the writer describes people who have messed with sex, both heterosexual and homosexual, people who have ripped off others, who’ve been selfish and greedy, who’ve had drinking problems, along with backstabbers and cheaters. Then comes this startling statement: “That is what some of you were.” Were? How does that happen? How do dirty people get clean?
Here’s how. It says, “You were washed…you were justified (that means made right with God) in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” God gave them a spiritual shower because of Jesus. How can a God whose perfect just erase all my sins from His book? It says, “In the name of the Lord Jesus.”
That’s because Jesus had all the dirt of my life dumped on Him when He died on the cross. In the Bible’s words, “He carried our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Just think of Jesus absorbing all the guilt, all the shame, and all the hell of every angry thing you’ve ever done; every dirty thing, every selfish thing, every deceitful thing, every hurting thing. That’s how much He loves you. That’s how much He wants to forgive you so you can have the unspeakable joy of being clean and the guarantee of being with Him in heaven forever.
As Jesus was dying on that cross, He said of those who nailed Him there, “Father, forgive them.” That’s what He wants to say to God about you today, “Father, forgive him. Forgive her.” If you will take what He died to give you. No religion can erase your sin from God’s book. Only Jesus can do that, because only Jesus paid the death penalty that we deserve. The sinless One became dirty so you could become clean. He took your hell so you could live in His heaven.
The man on the cross next to Jesus, hearing His offer of forgiveness, said to Him, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). That’s what you need to do – to reach out to the Great Forgiver and ask Him to forgive all the sinning you’ve ever done. If you do, He will say, “I will remember your sin no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Grab Him in total faith as the only One who can rescue you from your sin.
If you’re tired of dirty, if you’re ready to finally be clean inside, you can tell Jesus that, right now.
There’s nothing like a shower when you feel dirty. And right now Jesus stands ready to wash away the dirt of your lifetime. It feels so good to be clean!
I urge you today, don’t put it off another day. Invite Jesus into your heart. That will be the best decision you’ve ever have made. Please pray this prayer and mean it from your heart, as you invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
# Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask that you would forgive me.
I believe that You died for my sins, and I believe that you have risen from the dead.
Today, I turn away from my sinful ways, and invite You to come into my heart and into my life.
Right now I confess you Jesus as the Lord of my soul.
I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone.
Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.
(for resources to help you navigate this journey with Jesus and to help you get started, visit www.ANewStory.com alternatively www.whatnow.vip or call our Prayer Lines on 0861777707)