Departing From Evil

King Solomon asked in Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?"  The answer is no one!  We are all unclean due to sin, and we cannot address our spiritual malady.  A person tasked to wash windows with oil-soaked rags could not eliminate streaks or smears, and no amount of elbow grease could remove the greasy film.  When the light shines through, the filth is clearly seen!  One would have a better chance of cleaning a oily window that purifying our hearts from sin, for we are spiritually dead and powerless to revive or redeem ourselves.  In our natural condition, we are not inclined to humble ourselves before God or man at all.

The Bible teaches us there is one who can forgive sins, and that is the righteous God revealed in Jesus Christ who remained without sin.  Jesus demonstrated His power to forgive sins and that He was God made flesh when He healed a paralytic who suddenly, at Christ's command before many witnesses, stood and walked.  Jesus Christ is good and God; He is righteous, holy and pure.  By His shed blood He provided the means of atonement for sin, satisfying the justice of God by His death so all who trust in Him can be spiritually raised to life forever by faith in Him.  The rising of Jesus from the dead showed His authority and power over sin that brings death.  Having been justified by faith in Christ and set apart as God's own children and inheritance, we are called to live lives free of sin.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:6 long before the Gospel was revealed by Jesus:  "In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil."  Jesus has provided atonement for our sins, and our lives ought to follow His pattern of mercy and truth which guides us to walk uprightly.  For a long time we lived to please and satisfy ourselves, and as born again children of God living in the fear of God prompts us to depart from evil.  Before coming to Christ we were like orphaned children who lied, shoplifted, scammed and picked pockets to survive.  With winter well on the way and death inevitable due to the harsh elements, God was like a kind-hearted man who saw us starving and freezing in rags and offered to adopt us as children so we could be provided for, loved and comforted.  We liked the idea of having new clothes, a roof over our heads in winter and a place at a table for three meals a day, and we agreed to the arrangement.

Imagine the father going to tuck his adopted child into bed, and to his surprise found the bed empty and the window wide open.  It seems bringing a child in off the streets didn't purge his new son or daughter of their old habits!  After scouring the streets the father found his child in an alley behind a bakery, digging through rubbish for out-of-date baked goods to eat rats had already spoiled.  Being a son or daughter at the table meant eating unfamiliar vegetables and needing to wait until after dinner for dessert, and as children of God we have many lessons to learn as we willingly submit to His pattern of life.  By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil, and recognising God as our Father and loving to please Him leads us to abandon our old ways and choose Him instead.  We cannot cleanse our hearts from sin, but we can wash our hands with soap and water.  God has provided atonement with His shed blood, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can depart from evil.  We need God's help to have righteous standing before Him and to embrace our sanctification in submitting to Him.