You Can’t Get Jesus Dirty
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:7-9, ESV
Have you ever looked at that person sitting in a pew across the church and thought something like, “I can't believe they can sit there with how they live!” Or, “There's no way someone like that can be saved.” Perhaps you have looked into the mirror and thought the same types of thoughts? ”I'm too far gone.” “I'm too old; I've blown my chances.” “I'm beyond help.” Or how about, “I'm too dirty, it's hopeless!”
Friend, every single one of those thoughts is wrong. Untrue. Why? Because God is BIGGER than every circumstance you face! EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. How can I be so sure? Allow me to tell you a little story. An 18-year-old girl, strong in her faith; she wasn’t perfect, but she was a leader. This made her a target for a man who made it his life's work to break and destroy her. A year of attacks and abuse followed. The cuts he gave were not mere scratches, and each burn left scars much more than skin deep.
When she found herself alone in the darkness after one such attack, her thoughts were dark indeed. She begged God to take her home, cried out with every breathe she could manage. What followed changed everything. A simple whisper, “You are not alone.” A peace overwhelmed the moment beyond comprehension. The truth that I can't get Jesus dirty.
That is such a small piece of my story, but you need to see that Jesus was not afraid nor hesitant to walk into my dirty life and carry me out. He won't hesitate to do the same for you. You can be neck deep in the filth of this world, BUT GOD will reach down and have compassion. That compassion isn't just a deep sympathy or sorrow felt for your suffering, but a call to action and a desire to alleviate that suffering. God isn't interested in leaving us in the muddy pits. He is interested in abundantly pardoning us. That means a forgiveness that goes beyond the mere removal of punishment, offering a restoration to a relationship with God. It is far beyond what we expect or deserve.
Praise the Lord! His ways are not our ways! He is worthy of our all. Forsake any wicked ways, friend. Abandon those thoughts that are not true, honorable, just, or pure (Philippians 4:8). Return to the Lord! No matter where you find yourself, no matter your age or the time since you left. Romans 8:38-39 promises us that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! Until you take that final breath and are ushered into eternity, KNOW that you still have hope, found in Christ Jesus!