Clean

It's gone! The nail polish stain has been removed! After reading through numerous carpet cleaning tricks, we chose a highly recommended on-line remedy to remove the mango madness. Shaving cream. As ridiculous as it sounds, Barbasol shaving cream actually did the trick. After much work, carefully massaging the shaving cream into the carpet, its original color has been restored.

I never would have dreamed that shaving cream could remove brightly colored nail polish from anything, let alone carpet. Sometimes God uses the ordinary, and yes, even the ridiculous things to teach me valuable lessons. Reminds me of a story I read...

His name was Naaman. He was an important man, captain of the host of the king of Syria, to be exact. He had a problem. Not just any problem, a major problem. He had a highly contagious disease -leprosy.

An Isrealite maid just happened to be his wife's servant. She had been captured from Israel and brought to Naaman's household as a slave. In spite of her circumstances, this "little maid" had a heart full of compassion, and spoke to her mistress, "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:2,3; KJV).

Naaman decided to meet with the prophet, Elisha, after all, he had nothing to lose..."So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (2 Kings 5:9-10).

Wait just a minute! Naaman had traveled a long way to see this prophet. Who did Elisha think he was to send a mere servant to the door, when Naaman was a well-established captain?! The least the prophet could do was to come to the door and speak to Naaman himself. And what was this deal about washing in the Jordan River? Wasn't Elisha aware of the pollution and filth in that river? Wouldn't the rivers in Damascus, either the Abana or Pharpar rivers be much more sanitary? Naaman was ready to stalk away in a rage.

In wisdom, his servants consoled him, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean" (2 Kings 5:13). Although it seemed ridiculous by his standards, and quite unsanitary, Naaman listened to the advice of his servants and went down to the Jordan River. Imagine the thoughts that must have run through his mind as he waded into the dirty water. As he began to dip himself, once, twice, three times into its murky depths. When he came up out of the water that seventh time, he knew that doing the absurd had been entirely worth it! He was healed! "...and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean" (2 Kings 5:14b).

From a little maid to a dirty river, God used some pretty ordinary, and even ridiculous things to draw this Syrian captain to Himself. Don't miss Naaman's response, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel...for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord" (2 Kings 5:15b, 17b).

Sometimes the absurd and ridiculous things have a way of drawing us to God like nothing else can. Doesn't it seem too simple for salvation to be a gift? We can't do anything to earn it, we can only accept it by faith. Paul confirms this truth in the book of Ephesians, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (2:8-9).

Just like Naaman, we each have a choice to make. Will we argue with God? Insisting that there must be SOMETHING we can DO to earn our way to heaven? Or will we simply believe and receive His free gift? Naaman was rewarded for his belief with physical healing. If you choose to accept God's free gift of salvation, you'll be rewarded with spiritual healing. Isaiah paints a beautiful picture, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

When the right 'cleaner' was applied to my carpet, the nail polish stain was removed. The blood of Jesus Christ has already been shed to pay your sin debt. When you allow Him to apply that blood to your account, your sin stain will be removed. Respond to His message today, and you too can be 'clean'!