There are two types of rain. One cleanses everything it hits, and the other leaves things dirty and soiled.
Take the lowlands of North Carolina, for example. Some summers the rain falls with abandon. Pull the car in the garage after a tumultuous downpour, and once it dries, it is as clean as new. However, in Central Texas, the lightest shower can turn vehicles gray with oily dirt.
What is the difference? The frequent rains in the Carolinas keep the air and the roads washed clean. There is no dirt to stain the sides of the car. In Texas, infrequent rains allow layers of oil and dirt to build up on the dry road surfaces, and dusty residue remains suspended in the dry air. The rains that do come stir up the filth, and soon it is everywhere.
In our Christian walk, what do people see when the rains of trial and tribulation come our way? Are we left clean as new, or do our trials simply bring out the sins that have built up in our lives?
Leviticus talks about how sin can dirty everything around us. Chapter 15:1-13 describes a man who has a running issue out of his flesh. The Hebrew word for “issue” suggests a particular disease, one caught from sinful activities. Not only has the man become unclean, but everything he touches becomes unclean. His skin, his bed, his sofa, even the saddle he rides on is made dirty.
Even the dishes he touches are to be broken so they may never be used again.
The man’s sin has spread to everything he touches. He has become the Dirty Rain.
Sin does that to us. Our only solution is to let the redeeming showers of Christ’s forgiveness wash us daily. Then we will remain clean and new, even when the trials of this life come our way.
Jesus came to wash our sins away, leaving us white as snow, a shining example of his love for the world to see. When we remain spotless before him, our example draws others to the cross.
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