"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the Potter. We are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord; do not remember our sins forever."
Isaiah 64: 6, 8-9
In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God gave the people many detailed instructions about diseases. Chapter 13, verse 45 says, "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp."
Sin is like an infectious disease. It gets ahold of you, makes you feel as lifeless as a dry leaf and sweeps you away. Even the most righteous act you try to do is not enough to redeem you or restore you. It's like a torn, filthy rag.
Perhaps you are mired in an addition to drugs, gambling or pornography or you are engaged in an illicit affair. You've gone too far in too many areas, your family and friends are tired and few. Your life has become very lonely as if you are living outside of the camp. All of us have "become like one who is unclean".
There is hope! Just as Jesus healed the ten lepers (Luke 17:14), he heals us, freeing us from the curse of sin. When he voluntarily shed his blood on the cross, he was pouring himself out as an offering for us, to cleanse us and renew us. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
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