II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” NKJV
My house is filled to the brim these days with humans and dogs, meaning clutter and dirt are forced to cohabitate peacefully with us – that is, until the end of the week. By Saturday morning, it’s all-hands-on-deck as we frantically attempt to transform chaos into some semblance of livability, allowing us a clean start.
The filthiest is always the floors, where numerous footprints (large, small, and paw-shaped) bear witness to our comings and goings. As frustrating as this is, I remind myself that muddy footprints are an aggravation to mothers world-wide.
Have you considered evidence in scripture suggesting our Heavenly Father dislikes muddy footprints, also? In Exodus 14, God, through a mighty display of power, delivered Israel from many years of slavery under Pharaoh. Following ten horrific plagues, God’s children departed Egypt with boldness (Exodus 14:8) for the promise of a new beginning. Surely, this was a dream come true!
However, as God’s people camped before the massive Red Sea, an ominous dust cloud arose on the horizon. Pharaoh’s chariots were approaching. In the blink of an eye (and in only two short verses of scripture) the Israelites demeanor shifted from boldness to great fear (Exodus 14:10) Can you imagine the mayhem that must have erupted?
But serving an unconventional God meant an unconventional path to freedom, so as Israel stood hemmed-in on all sides, God effortlessly parted the sea. . .
“And the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” Exodus 14:22
God could have stopped with parting the water, but he took his display a step further. Look at that little word, “dry.” Its three tiny letters portray a multitude of power. By all standards, thick, miry, mucky mud should have lain before the Israelites, yet God’s people crossed the sea on completely DRY ground.
Not wet ground.
Not damp ground.
Not muddy ground.
Completely dry ground!
Consider the magnitude of this! Crossing on dry ground provided more than just escape. Israel was able to leave their muddy past completely behind and emerge on the far bank of the Red Sea to a clean, new beginning. Not even a single footprint from their life in Egypt traveled with them.
The gift of a clean start can only be granted by the merciful heart of God. Through His great love, He offers this seemingly impossible newness today: a fresh life totally void of a muddy past. I am so grateful for 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminding us if we are in Christ, our old muddy past is gone and all things are new and clean. And, who doesn’t need that! In my house, that is the difference in Friday night dirty and Saturday afternoon clean and bright!
Father God, help us to remember that you alone provide us a new and clean life. Help us leave behind our muddy past to walk with You.
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane