Anyway, back to what I was going to talk about. Today I was on the stage of our church frantically scrubbing away at the white paint on the stage trying to remove scuff marks and whatever else was making it up. I was using a Mr. Clean magic eraser.
Yeah... one of those. I don't know if you've ever used one, but they're pretty awesome. Anyway... all that to say the darn thing didn't work. It would get some spots out, but some of the marks were deep stains that would show back up a few minutes after cleaning them.
This got me thinking...
How often do we treat God like a magic eraser?
We just want to say a quick prayer and any ugly mark on us is supposed to just go away. Yeah thats great... and God can and will do that... the bible says so...
ephesians 5:25-27 (NLT) just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
But if we stop there it kinda takes the responsibility off of us doesn't it?
We could just come to God every time we mess up and get that same just brushed clean feeling. God will forgive, but he calls us to repent.
Acts 3:19 (NIV) "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
See that? Your sins will only be "wiped out" if you truly repent for them. Repentance takes more than "I'm sorry." Repentance takes a radical lifestyle change that will result in forgiveness and victory over the sin.
So next time you want God to wipe a magic eraser over your situation try and give your whole self over to the process and really turn things around.
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