Washed and Keeping Clean

We had dogs growing up, and some of the care of these pets fell to me.  I helped clean up after them, walk them, feed, and bathe them.  One especially frustrating thing about bathing the dogs was their lack of connection between being washed and staying clean.  None of our dogs particularly enjoyed being bathed, and it seemed like the first thing they did after their baths they dashed away and rolled in the dirt.  "Sporty," a Cocker Spaniel mix, was well-known for this.  In a ridiculously short time that dog managed to return his dusty, flea-ridden, and filthy state as before.

To me it seemed if Sporty knew he had been cleaned (especially since he hated baths), it would be fitting for him to make an effort to remain clean by refraining from filthy activities.  But Sporty, by nature being a dog (and not a particularly intelligent animal at that!), never understood or realised the connection.  From a tender age children are taught this very thing:  after taking a bath do not roll in the mud - in fact, never roll in the mud because it will mean a scolding, a spanking, or restriction of freedoms now enjoyed.  As children this understanding related to the clothes we wore.  If we were wearing our "nice" clothes we were to take care we did not slide on the grass and stain them.  Eating was to be done in the table and not in bed.  Perhaps you have no problem with eating in bed or in the car, but undoubtedly there are things you take care to keep clean.  A person's room may be a disaster but the same takes care to avoid touching the door in a public restroom after washing his hands.

When we are born again through faith in Jesus, He washes us pure and clean.  Knowing this ought to have a massive impact in the way we behave moving forward - much more than a little boy is aware he just had a bath and ought to take steps to avoid stomping in puddles.  Ephesians 5:1-4 says, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."  It is not fitting for girls in their best dresses to use scissors to cut them to ribbons, nor is it fitting for children after a bath before bed to fling mud at each other.  There is behaviour fitting and unfitting a child of God, and part of spiritual maturity is finding out through scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit what is acceptable or not.  Following the example of Jesus is the safest and best way to conduct ourselves, imitating Him as children who imitate the father they admire.

Brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, our behaviour should not resemble the dog who returns to its vomit or as the fool who repeats his folly, our lives being marked by the very sins Jesus has washed us from.  Having been given a new nature through the Spirit there is no excuse for us to be like senseless animals who do not realise they have been cleansed or how to remain clean after washing.  We should show more care for loving God and others than keeping food out of our beds or germs from our hands.  Since we are washed clean from all impurity our eyes are to be fixed on Christ and our minds on godly things.  And when we find ourselves fallen in the mire of sin we should not wallow like pigs but humble ourselves before God in repentance and receive His cleansing forgiveness by faith.  Having been washed clean to abide in the presence of our King, we should carry ourselves - as much as depends upon us - in a fashion worthy of such privilege.