clean hands (Photo credit: Arlington County)

Not a one of us lives each day without serious challenges regarding righteous behavior.  Most people I’ve met, if allowed to speak their mind with honesty and clarity, will tell of a certain set of sins they know stand between the Living God and themselves.  Some are more able than others.  But most flounder poorly in their personal battle.

What shall be said about this?  We are told to “Make every effort. . .”  But what if our efforts are pathetically unable to turn that corner?

I am put to mind that man who appeared at the Great Feast, dressed appropriately but lacking a word to explain how he got in there.  There are clean hands among men.  But there are Clean Hands necessary when we appear before the Lord of Glory.  How do we accomplish what we are obviously lacking?  Our perception of sin seems to roll down to the bottom of the scale of importance.  We make excuses or simply ignore the truth.

I am forced, personally, to learn a truth.  If you can’t seem to summon the strength to fight, ask God for His wise intervention.  It won’t come in the form of obvious freedom from that sin (or set of sins).  But it will surely arrive.  Most people I’ve talked to about this mention a soul-shaking fear which is delivered to them by a word or two from the Lord.  Perhaps it is something like this, “You will be completely forgotten.”  There will be no place in the memory of God for sin.  If all we are is sin, then what does that do to us?

The Book of Life is being written.  Our names appear as we place our faith in the Lord.  The war begins at that moment.  But there is a “blotting out” also.  Let us be aware of both sides of the Lord’s promise.  Let it spur us beyond our weakness.  If we can’t find the strength to desire “Clean Hands”, let us not lie to God and pretend it doesn’t matter.  Tell Him you don’t want to.  Admit your resistance to His rule.  Why hide what is already seen in pure daylight?