Growing up, I learned how to cook on a 1908 Great Majestic wood-burning stove. During the summer, we wouldn’t use the stove, because it was too hot. Then, each year, around October, the stove would get a good cleaning to get it ready for another season. We’d scrape the rust off; clean the bricks; and scrub the soot off the oven walls. During the winter, we would clean it up some, but not like that first cleaning in the fall.
Today, many people have newfangled gas or electric ovens that are “continuous cleaning.”
Apparently, the guys at NASA or wherever developed a porous surface that absorbs vapors, drippings, and other food gunk. When used properly, the oven stays clean and does not need to be cleaned like stoves in the past.
Not a new concept
Continuous cleaning is not a new concept. It goes back to the Bible. Under the Old Law, when people soiled their souls with sin, they would offer a sacrifice to scrub away the sin. “when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering” (Lev 5:5-6a). Then, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would make an offering for the entire congregation (Lev 16).
This repetitive soul cleaning was like the stove cleaning from my youth. Sadly, the yearly repetition was never good enough. “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near…. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Heb 10:1-4). Similarly, the oven was never completely clean. It still hoards grease in its corners and crumbs in its crevices.
Then, God provided a sacrifice that would offer continuous cleaning—his Son. Now, the blood of Christ lines our souls like the porous surface of the continuous cleaning oven. When we sin, His blood absorbs the guilt! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). His blood turns our souls into continuous cleaning ovens.
Light walking
John gives one caveat to the continuous cleansing of the blood—walking in the light. Light walking refers to our daily effort to please God. It is more than doing what we want and trusting God to clean it up. We must strive to do what God wants and trust him to make up for our shortcomings. It requires losing our will in his will and finding our joy in his joy. As Christians, we winnow down the self so Christ may live in us.
As we seek to walk in the light, God promises to keep up continually clean. Enjoy the simplicity of living Christ!
Preaching Minister