Clean Vessels

"Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD."

Isaiah 52:11

The prophet emphatically reminded those tasked with carrying the sanctified vessels of the LORD's house of their privileged role.  Men born to the tribe of Levi had roles as priests and ministers unto a holy God.  They were God's inheritance, and He was theirs.  Their identity was to be found in the righteous God who had chosen, called, and sanctified them.  They served a holy God who spoke to His people:  "Be ye holy, for I am holy."  For this reason the priests and Levites were to be consecrated and set apart for the service of the LORD, ensuring they lived a life free of defilement.

Under the Law, guidelines were given to ceremonially cleanse and sanctify priests and Levites.  They were to offer sacrifice, wash with clean water, and wear the approved clothing.  Much effort was employed to maintain external purity.  But under the New Covenant in Christ's blood, there are none who "bear" the vessels of the LORD in the same way today.  When the curtain was rent in the Temple during Christ's crucifixion, worship under the Law in a Temple made with hands was wound up.  Jesus had once for all become a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  The Bible tells us that Christians are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within the heart of every believer.  Our bodies are the vessels God has seen fit to place His glory within.  The focus of Christ during His ministry on earth was not the keeping of outward tradition - carefully washing the outside of the vessel whilst ignoring defilement within - but the cleansing of the inner man of sin through faith in Jesus.  Spiritual regeneration gives a man a new heart and renewed mind through the washing of the water of the Word.  Once our hearts are cleansed of sin, our lives should reflect that transformation.

One of the consequences of focusing on our need for a purified heart and mind can be a neglect of intentional practice to be pure from sinful practices.  Because Jesus remained pure and holy in a world filled with sin, perhaps we think we can entertain unclean thoughts or bring sinful deeds into our lives without negative consequences.  The fact God has forgiven and cleansed us from sin does not provide license for us to dabble in it.  The practice of "toeing the line" leads to stumbling and falls.  The inner man can be affected by the things we do and dwell upon in our thinking.  Our vessels can be polluted and disqualified for service.  A Levite was a Levite, whether or not he was sanctified to perform his God-given duty and calling.  We too can be genuine Christians by faith and spiritual rebirth, but be unfit for service unto our God because we have not kept our minds and hearts pure.

Only God can cleanse minds and hearts of men, but we are told to take action ourselves in obedience to God.  Hosea 10:12 lays forth our personal responsibilities:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  God has said when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.  Jesus came to earth as a man to demonstrate God's love for sinners, and Hebrews 10:22 exhorts us to respond:  "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  Instead of nurturing affections for this world, Colossians 3:2 says to "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."  James 1:27 puts it this way:  "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

Christians are in this world, but we are not of this world.  We have been sanctified, set apart for God and His service.  Through God's power we are also commanded to sanctify ourselves, separating ourselves from unholy influences and defilement for the LORD's use.  Let us not be tricked to think Christianity is just an inner work.  Because of our new spiritual birth and heritage given by a Holy God as His adopted children, we are to take seriously this command to bring our inner and outer man into alignment with our Father in heaven.  I have heard it said "the part of your life God cares most about is the part no one else sees," but He also cares about what other people and we see.  He cares about the things we set before our eyes and allow into our lives, minds, and homes.  The God who cleanses the inside of the cup thinks the outside should match.  Being clean on the inside but remaining filthy on the outside is hypocrisy too, right?