Growing up in the mountains of our great state afforded me the education of lots of folk sayings. Everything from “a watch pot never boils” to “fair is a place where pigs squeal for money” has crossed my ears (and lips) at one point in time or another. But this past Sunday, I was exposed to one I’d never heard before.

Get in the washing machine with Jesus.

I am sure that, like me, the mental image of that is enough to give you pause. However, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.

You see, none of us can ever be clean enough to come to Jesus. Sure, lots of folks try to clean up both inside and out prior to accepting the grace, love and mercy He gives but we never really accomplish the task. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that even AFTER we come to Him, we’re not clean. There’s the backsliding we tend to do, the “unknown” sin that the Holy Spirit exposes to us and those “worldly traps” we walk into so regularly. When you really think about it, we’re all really very filthy.

Considering all that, getting in the washing machine with Jesus describes the way Christians should be even more than I originally realized. There’s the Holy Spirit that turns the dials and gets us going on the correct cycle. Then, the generous portion of soap to clean up the messes we’ve already made; the agitator of God’s guidance that works out the less “seen” dirt and the falling water of Grace that rinses us clean. Even the spin cycle plays a part as we go about spreading what we’ve received to others.

So many times we get wrapped up in who is clean and who is not. We try to hide from God because we view ourselves as unclean. We are quick to point out other’s spots as well. But the truth be told, we all need a good run through the washing machine regularly. We all need to be set on the right path, cleansed, agitated and washed in grace to keep us growing toward Him. Without any one of those steps, we very well may fall short of a full cycle and find ourselves mildewing in this box we call life.

And I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to have to get in the washing machine, I’d just as soon it be with Jesus than anyone else!