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When the Unclean Becomes Clean |
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Written by Francis Frangipane
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Thursday, 17 July 2008 |
There are unfathomable mysteries concerning the Messiah's entrance into
our world, realities that are beyond our powers of comprehension - His
divine conception, the manifestation of the angelic hosts, the
miraculous star that led the wise men, etc. Yet, one reality strikes me
as most profound: of all places where the Son of God might have been
born, His birth came in a stable.
 With myriads of angels at the Almighty's command, we might assume the
world's Creator would have orchestrated better accommodations - a rich
man's home, perhaps - for the birth of Christ. Indeed, Christ was
associated with a rich man in His death (Isa. 53:9). Yet the staging of
His birthplace was a prophetic portrait, a symbol that would represent
the nature of His entire life. Thus, when I contemplate the unwritten
message of Christ's birthplace, I am comforted: He who was born in the uncleanness of a stable, is not offended to be born within me.
The Union of the Clean with the Unclean
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a backdrop to the issue of Christ's birthplace, consider: the Old
Testament had a multitude of laws concerning cleanliness. The Holy
Spirit makes over 250 references to clean and unclean things. In all
cases the principle is the same: when something (or someone) clean is
touched by something unclean, that which was clean becomes unclean. The
fact is, cleanliness was directly associated with the holiness of God
in scores of verses in the book of Leviticus.
Certain health conditions could render a person unclean, such as skin
diseases, boils or menstruation. When one was unclean, they were
required to stay away from their community until their condition
changed and their restored health was verified by a priest.
Lepers and others with contagious skin diseases were not only unclean
but were required to ring a bell while calling in a loud voice,
"Unclean, unclean!" warning those who approached of their condition
(Lev. 13:45). However, when Christ comes to lepers, He doesn't back
away, rather He touches and heals them - and they become clean!
Beloved, with the Messiah, the entire principle of clean and unclean is
reversed! He who is clean does not become unclean by touching us, we
become clean! Just as the Lord affirmed to Peter: "What God has
cleansed, no longer consider unholy" (Acts 10:15).
Many people do not accept Christ simply because they are too aware of
their inner uncleanness. Yet once we accept Christ, the indwelling of
Christ not only washes us, but His presence makes us holy. Do you see?
We are holy because He is holy. We are clean because His blood and His
word cleanse us. We can never become clean until Christ comes to dwell
in our spirits.
This season, regardless of the uncleanness you feel inwardly, open your
heart to Christ. Let the Redeemer enter. He who emerged in our world in
a stable will not be offended at your need. Let His cleanness cleanse
and heal that which is unclean within you.
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