Gag a Maggot!
Gag a Maggot!
Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
“That would create a retching and gag response from a soft-bodied, legless larvae of a fly!” I cleaned up the phrase that was often spoken by my generation to indicate that something was beyond gross and disgusting. “That is so gross it would gag a maggot!” This is often what we do with sin. We try to clean it up and make it less offensive. We will often call something a “mistake” when it is clearly a sin. It does not offend God when make the mistake of spilling a glass of milk. It does, however, offend Him when you lust and covet another man’s wife.
In verse one, David had appealed to God’s mercy and unfailing love to remove his transgressions. Now, in verse two, he needs to be cleaned up. Most boys from my generation have experienced being stripped down to nakedness and hosed off in the back yard. “You are too nasty to come into my house! Get out there and get those nasty clothes off! Here take this Lava soap and scrub while I hose you off!” People will often ask the question whether there is something God can’t or won’t do. He will not and cannot stop being God. One of the characteristics of God is that he is completely pure. Allowing any form of impurity into his presence would compromise this purity. Even though his love is unfailing, he cannot allow impurity into his house. We need a cleansing that is greater than a good hosing off and Lava soap. We need to be cleansed down to the core. The exposure of secret sexual sin makes us aware of this need because it has fed our sinful core nature.
“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me white as snow? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” David knew he needed to be cleaned in order to reconcile with God. He just didn’t know that the Cleaner was going to be his great grandson. No need to minimize or make your sin sound less offensive. Jesus can handle your garbage even the ones that gag a maggot.
If you find yourself ready to address the secret sexual sin in your life, Perfect Hope offers a message of hope through our material and services. For more information about our Blessing of the Thorn Course click here. To learn more about how sexual affects the Christian click here for your copy of The Blessing of the Thorn ebook.
Jonathan Jones, President and Founder of Perfect Hope Ministry
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