Your Washing Will Take Time

From today’s reading…

Nothing impure gets into heaven, which means you have two choices: endure the painful but glorious process of being purified either here on earth or at the little waiting/purging room God has made for you, or endure the painful but inglorious process of being tortured for all eternity.

“Wait, Wes. WTH are you talking about? Jesus died for our sins. We’re saved once and for all. I went up to the altar. I raised my hands. I shed a tear. I accepted Jesus. I felt the Holy Spirit move me. Besides, that hyssop branch is what they used to spread the blood of the lamb over their doors and on the altar, so the blood of Jesus has purified me, which means I’m good to go. Pass the PBR and hand me the remote. Alleluia!”

That’s a convenient take on the Scriptures, but let me ask you something.

Why does today’s verse imply that it will take many washings until the author is clean? 

And why does Jesus, when He tells us how to pray, say, “‘Give us today our daily bread.’” in Matthew 6:11, and why does Paul tell us, “But anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be persecuted;” in 2 Timothy 3:12, and why does Paul say, “Let your behaviour be free of murmuring and complaining so that you remain faultless and pure,” in Philippians 2:14-15a?

Our purification is not a one-and-done thing.

It is a journey that requires obedience, like Paul in Philippians 2:12b: “your obedience must not be limited to times when I am present.

Now that I am absent it must be more in evidence, so work out your salvation in fear and trembling.”

So take one more sip of that PBR, hit “record” on your remote, then turn off the TV and get to work on purifying yourself daily, which is the only way to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.

Now go sell something.