February 28, 2011 Eternal Cleanser

Eternal Cleanser
Read Numbers 31-33

Num 33:51-52 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.’”

WHAT DO you do when you move into a new house? Generally, you clean out your old house, remove what you don’t need and take only the “essentials” to the new house. You also (I assume) take precautions to keep the dirt out—you want to keep your new house clean!
God’s people were about to move into their new house. The Promised Land was ahead. But before they move in, God specifically instructs them to get the dirt out of their lives, to remove their false gods.
It’s easy to get dirty, isn’t it? We walk outside in the rain, slip in a puddle, and we are dirty. We spill food on a clean shirt. Dust is on the window sill and all over the furniture. Regardless of how new your house is, dirt moves in with you.
Dirt showed up with the snake in the Garden of Eden. Dirt will show up in the Promised Land. God, of course, knows how dirty his house can get when his peole keep the door open and let the dust come.
So he warns them, in essence, to keep the dust rag handy, to sweep up the spiritual dirt and keep a spiritually clean home by cleaning out the idols.
Is there too much dirt in your life? Trust God to be your cleaning agent. Invite Jesus to come and clean your house (your soul) with his blood—the eternal dirt cleaner.


Pause and Consider: doesn’t it feel great to be clean in Jesus?