The Great Bubble Bath

Sin, sin sin!  I was starting to have “flashbacks” to Saturday Night Live and Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” character after this weekend’s sermon.  Pastor Steve focused on a subject that we do not like to talk about much – our sinful nature.  So often we see our sin as a mistake rather than as sin.  Sometimes we think that our sin is not nearly as bad as other people’s sins!  Reality is, my sin and your sin both smell.  We stink!  God doesn’t like sin, period.  To God, sin is sin.  There is no ranking of sin or distinction in God’s eyes.  We are all helpless sinners!

Something that I’ve found helpful over the years to help explain sin is what I call the “sin continuum.”  Who would you say is a person who is almost “next” to God, someone who you think doesn’t sin much?  I know I think of Mother Teresa or Billy Graham.  Who would you say is a person or kind of person that sins a lot?  Most would say something like mass murderers, thieves, child molesters and abusers.  I’m sure some specific names might come to your mind.  Now, where would you put yourself?  If Mother Teresa is a “10” on the sin continuum and mass murderers are “ones,” where do you fall?  I think most of us would put ourselves as a five or six – right?  I didn’t kill anyone, but I'm not a saint like Mother Teresa either.  I’m not really a bad person, I just make some mistakes from time to time.  I’m not a really big sinner like my neighbor down the street is. 

The truth is we are all ONES on the great sin continuum!  Sin is sin – there is no way around it!  While we can’t ever stop sinning, since it’s part of our fallen human nature, we can come to a realization that only through Jesus can we find forgiveness and be washed clean.  And, I know I need to be continually “cleaned up” every moment of every day. 

When I was little, I loved bubble baths.  I would play in the tub for an hour or more!  My mom would finally have to tell me that I was clean enough and it was time for bed.  I loved those bubble bath nights!  And, when I think about my prayer life with God, I think about those bubble baths I use to take as a small child.  In all honesty I need to be in a perpetual “bubble bath” with God.  My bubble bath is now called confession and prayer.  I have found that continual prayer is the best bubble bath around!  It does a lot more than merely making my body clean – it cleans me from the inside out. 

Why not take a bubble bath today?  Try to pray without ceasing today and ask God for His forgiveness and see how He will transform you from the inside out and free you from your sins.  Get washed clean through the blood of the Lamb. 

Here’s an old hymn called “Are You Washed in the Blood,” sung by Alan Jackson live on the Grand Old Opry.  

Pax,

Pastor Carol