THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A noted Monsignor was to be the guest of honor at a Washingtong banquet. A prominent politician was to serve as chairman and introduce the guest of honor, but the politician had been detained. The toastmaster proceeded without the politician.
When the Monsignor stood to speak, he said, "The seal of the confessional can never be broken, and so I can only hint of my impressions when I first came to Washington some 25 years ago. I must say, I thought I had come to a very awful place. The first man who entered the confessional told me a hair-raising tale of his graft and corruption. But, later as the years passed by, I knew I'd entered a community of lovely people, and it has been an honor to serve among you these 25 years."
Just then the politician arrived and rushed to the front. He apologized for being late, and was asked to speak a word in honor of the guest of honor. He arose and said, "I'll never forget the first day the Monsignor came into this parish. In fact, I have the honor of being the first to go to his confessional!"
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Lev 13:9-13
9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.
12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.
KJV
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What an amazing consternation is this lesson in the Old Testament about guiltiness, confession of sin and the miraculous healing of God! When the raw flesh appeared a leper was "unclean." But when the leprosy had turned white and covered "all his flesh" then he was CLEAN!
Only when a person confesses to Christ that he is totally covered with the leprosy of sin can he be cleansed.
Only when a person acknowledges that he is totally sin, completely sin, and pleads guilty before the Lord, can he be pronounced "clean." The raw ugly filthiness of our sin can only be made "white" by the grace of God and the blood of Christ.
Hidden sin, unfelt sin, and unconfessed sin is true leprosy! Nothing is more deadly than the sin of self-righteousness! No sin is more contagious to society than that of unholy self-piety. In the name of self-righteousness men make monkeys of themselves and idols of tree trunks.
When God's Holy Spirit truly convicts us of our awful sinfulness, our lips will truly confess that to our Lord and beg His forgiveness. For along with conviction comes convincing that we are in need of Christ for salvation.
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Prov 28:13)
What a wonderful comfort is this lesson from the Old Testament about our sinfulness! When a person confesses his sin before Christ and pleads for forgiveness, he is made "CLEAN!" As the old song says, "Christ Receiveth Sinful Men!" He that comes pleading GUILTY shall be accepted and shall not be refused.
"...and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37) God's great heart of love accepts and cleanses confessing sinners!
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa 1:18)
Ain't God GOOD?!?!?!
Love ya,
Bruce