Be Clean

Years ago, I attended a local women's conference. Apparently, or at least in my case, hospitality was not high on their list of priorities (Retreat! Retreat!, 2011). I have learned not to get bent out of shape about such things. If there seems to be a spirit of exclusivity or pride in the body of Christ, I think it's biblical to call those things out; but in my prior situation, there were plenty of other smiling, content, welcomed women. Somewhere, somehow what I expected from this situation was not what God intended for me. And I've come to really enjoy that. When articles don't post or friends cancel or illness takes me out of the game... Okay, God, I'm all Yours!

In 2 Kings 5 we're introduced to Naaman. He had expectations, too, and a skin disease. Some translations render this as "leprosy", but it was recognized as a condition closely associated with sin and the condition of one's heart. It was recommended to Naaman that he seek the help of Israel's prophet, Elisha, to be cured. Naaman was well-respected by his king and, as a commander of the king's armies, had the loyalty of many men. But when he and his entourage arrived at the door of the prophet's home, he got no further. Adding insult to injury, his treatment instructions were relayed to him by the doorman. Imagine expecting to see a doctor and having the receptionist hand you a Post-It with some websites scribbled on it. Of course, you'd wonder what sort of operation this was. You might be pretty incensed if the doctor was any distance away or you'd had to find a sitter last minute when they squeezed you in. And the thought just might creep in, I deserve more respect than this! You probably do; but for Naaman, it got worse. Those instructions he was given? Wash in the Jordan seven times. No fire, no incantation, no waving of a cloak or "holy touch". Just, Leave my doorstep, go wash in the dirty Jordan, and be clean. Not at all what Naaman expected. For Naaman, commander of a king's armies, to travel expectantly to a prophet of Israel's home, be greeted at the doorstep by a bossy servant, and subsequently comply was not as easy as you might think. Additionally, the Jordan River was much less desirable a bathtub than the rivers of Syria, Naaman's homeland. Could he not have sent word of his condition and received his prescription via messenger? Could he not have bathed in a river nearby and dispensed with all the travel arrangements? But doing it God's way required more of him: humility and faith. Not to mention, the be clean part. How, exactly, does one be clean? 

By God's grace, Naaman had some sober-minded escorts. When he initially balked at the idea, his servant threw a little common sense his way (v.13): 

My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’? 

In other words, Look at the great things of which you are capable! Are you not able to do this very simple thing? And he was. And he did. Humbly and with faith. Expectations laid aside like robes on the banks of the Jordan. And, by this simple thing, he was healed. Clean. But to be clean? 

The same is true of those who place their trust in Christ today. We are cleansed, sins forgiven. But just as the disciples before whom Jesus knelt, we collect road dirt as we journey through this life. Unmet expectations that cause us to contend with others. Fear that keeps us from speaking up when something needs to be said. The lives of others imposing on ours, and our resentment of it. The sins we commit are that road dirt and, though we are cleansed, we still have to wash up. Being clean, however, walking in the cleansing of the cross is the way we shorten that list of "road dirt offenses" and lessen the frequency with which we need to wash. Being clean happens when we walk humbly and faithfully with our God moment by moment, day after day. The way we come to Him the very first time is the way we need to come to Him again and again: as those with broken and sick hearts, casting aside our expectations, and humbly, faithfully yielding to whatever He will do in us and with us.