It’s Tulip-Festival time in Orange City, Iowa. The whole town is a-buzz with activity.
Of course, the parade plays an important part. First, we watch the pre-parade events such as Dutch dancers of many ages, local people modeling some of the costumes of provinces in the Netherlands, and introduction of the Tulip Festival Queen and her court.
But…oh, oh! Something is wrong! The mayor and city council examine the streets and determine they are not clean enough for the Queen and her court. So the whole town is urged to join in washing the streets. They are glad to do so, and soon buckets of water are thrown and brooms used to scrub the streets, cleansing them to make them fitting for royalty to walk upon.
This idea of cleansing makes me think of an analogy. Are we clean enough to welcome the presence of the royal Son of God?
The Bible says, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, “Be holy because I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16).
That can be a downer if we are trying to be holy on our own power. We can’t do it. But the Apostle John says cleansing comes through forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (I John 1:9).
John later says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may go through the gates into the city,” (Revelation 22:14). The way we ‘wash’ our robes is to confess our sins to God. Then he cleanses us by forgiveness.
The Apostle Paul tells the results of this confession and forgiveness: “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God,” (I Cor.6:11).
So “wash your streets,” (confess, receive forgiveness) and the royal Son of God will be pleased to walk with you. That will be joy and peace.
Judith Vander Wege, 5/18/2019
Video of: Are You Washed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9oW91Iv8D8
Leave a Reply