Wash Me! It has been said, “Faults are like the headlights of a car: those of others seem more glaring than your own….”
How often we overlook our own failures and sins while criticizing the faults in others! In fact, our judgment may reflect our own flaws, which usually are more serious than those we see in someone else.
Jesus asked, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:41-42).
A woman named Ruth Knowlton told how she came to see this truth. The building across the alley was only a few feet away, and she could easily look into her neighbor’s apartment. Ruth had never met the woman who lived there, but she could see her as she sewed and read each afternoon. After several months, she noticed that the figure by the window had become indistinct. She couldn’t understand why the woman didn’t wash her windows!
One sunny day Ruth decided to do some housecleaning, including washing her own windows. Later that day, she sat down to rest by the window. To her amazement, she could clearly and distinctly see her neighbor sitting by her window. Ruth said to herself, “Well, finally! She washed her windows!”
Actually, it was Ruth’s OWN windows that needed washing!
We need not look beyond ourselves to find those who need to be “washed.” “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). So before we busy ourselves pointing out the faults of others, we need to “wash our own windows”!
The TRUTH is, only Jesus can wash away the stain of sin from our souls. As a beloved song states: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins (Eph 1:7; Revelation 1:5).
God WILL wash away our sins when we: by faith in His Son (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Christ before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).
Ananias asked a penitent and believing Saul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Now, why are YOU waiting? As a penitent believer, won’t YOU arise and be baptized so that your sins may be washed away? THEN, you, with the love of Christ in your heart, can go and tell others how they may also have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus.
Won’t YOU?
David A. Sargent