The scripture that keeps running through my spirit today is " ...keep yourself unspotted from the world." James 1: 27 I am wondering how much pollution I have allowed in my life from the world; things that leave a mark, stain or spot.
I have also reflected on the many MRIs, CTscans, dermatologist checkups and xrays I have had over the last few years -- and the first thing I wanted to know was "Are there any suspicious SPOTS??" As we all know, an unwanted 'spot' in the body can grow to be a troublesome thing. Doctors advise that even the smallest suspicious thing should be removed.
In Ephesians, Paul refers to the work of the Word in our life as cleansing and purifying: Eph. 5: 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church (the bride of Christ) without a spot..." As a bride, the LAST thing you would want to find on your dress is a SPOT!!
I am thinking of things today that I have done or participated in that have left spots and stains -- marks of the world on me. (Where's the bleach???)
I love this scripture: Isaiah 1: 18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool."
Look what I found in the commentaries!
Scarlet: The cotton cloth was dipped in this color twice; and the word used to express it means also double-dyed, from the verb שׁנה shânâh, to repeat. It was a more permanent color than that which is mentioned under the word crimson. Scarlet sins can be generally described as ones that are done over and over from which you may feel there is no turning back...
This was a fast, or fixed color. Neither dew, nor rain, nor washing, nor long usage, would remove it. Hence, it is used to represent the fixedness and permanency of sins in the heart. No human means will wash them out. No effort of man, no external rites, no tears, no sacrifices, no prayers, are of themselves sufficient to take them away. They are deep fixed in the heart, as the scarlet color was in the weave of cloth, and an almighty power is needful to remove them.
Crimson: This color was less permanent than the scarlet. While not permanent, it was not possible to totally remove it and restore the garment by human methods.
Ahhhh then SNOW AND WOOL! WHITE AS SNOW - That is, the deep, fixed stain, which no human power could remove, shall be taken away. In other words, sin shall be pardoned, and the soul be made pure. AS WOOL - That is, as wool undyed, or from which the color is removed. Though your sins appear as deep-stained, and as permanent as the fast color of crimson in wool, yet they shall be removed - as if that stain should be taken away from the wool, and it should be restored to its original whiteness.
He knows us so well. "Come, let us reason together..." He wants to have a conversation about it and talk us through this cleansing.
I'm thinking I need a big, repetitive dose of Ephesians 5 to even identify the spots!
Why IN THE WORLD would I want to have anything to do with something that would put spots on my soul?? I can see I have some cleaning to do...
Marcie Elliott-Smith
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