John Mohlin
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:25-26)
It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Get splashed with some water and I will have a new spirit and a new heart, and I will be right with God. If only it were that easy. I have a lot of impurity. And whether it is my money, hobbies, or favorite sports teams, I have plenty of idols that get in the way of my relationship with God.
The prophet Ezekiel tells us clearly here that God will wash away all my sins. But why would God do that? There has to be something He wants from me. The Old Testament contains the Law and the Gospels are full of instruction from Jesus on how to live a holy life. There is a lot being asked of me. And even if I could do all these things, it is hard to believe that anything I do could make up for my sins.
But it is not about what I do. It’s about what He has already done. Jesus came and lived among us and died on the cross to pay the ultimate price for our sin. He paved the way for us to join him one day in Heaven. Until then, He has given us “a new spirit”, the Holy Spirit, to learn from and to grow in faith. Sure, He asks a lot from us. And He knows we will sometimes mess up and that “heart of stone” may show up once in a while. “But, as far as the east is from the west, that is how far He has removed our sins away from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
Ezekiel seems to have seen the coming of Christ and what he would bring to humankind. We have the advantage of knowing that He has already come and did all that was necessary to give us salvation.
Lord, As we continue through this Advent season, may we live lives free of the regret and guilt that come with sin, trusting that You cleanse us every day. And may we use this freedom to serve others and grow in our walk with You. Amen.