Wash Your Windows...

I've noticed something recently when I was driving that caused me to stop and ponder a spiritual truth that I hadn't recognized before.

The other day I was driving along in my car, heading directly into a glaring south Texas sunset. It was a beautiful sunset, but I could barely see where I was going due to the glare coming off my windshield. I noticed there was a layer of dust and dirt on my windshield (I hadn't seen it before until the sun shone through), so I turned on my wipers and sprayers and cleaned away the dirt. Then an interesting thing happened. I could see clearly and the brilliance of the sun's light was enjoyable to behold rather than blinding and annoying.

This experience caused me to reflect on the condition of my heart as it relates to my view of God. I am prone to pick up a lot of dirt from this world. Tempting billboards, raunchy TV shows, maybe a violent movie or lustful thought. Each sinful particle lands on the "windshield" of my heart, creating a thin film of pride, greed, anger, and lust. Then I attempt to continue following the Light of the World. But I am trying to follow with a dirty heart. My vision is hindered. I squint and blink trying to make out the road ahead of me, but the layers of sin on my heart prevent me from seeing the truth clearly. I need my windows washed...

God assures us in His Word that "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The dust of sin on my heart is washed clean by confessing where I got off the road and went my own way. The highway of truth and faith is firm, but the way of pride and foolishness is riddled with tricky turns, dusty trails, and dead ends. But when I confess my pride and humble myself before God, he is faithful to wipe my heart clean, giving me clear vision to see the light of his truth and grace. What a patient and gentle Savior!

May you examine your heart today and see if there needs to be some window washing in your near future.

Getting washed,

jonathan