Down and Dirty, Mark 2:1-5
The ongoing aftermath of Hurricane Ike along the Gulf coast of Texas brings to mind the thought for this month’s Deeper Insights. A group of Pastors in the Elm Grove Network of Churches across Mansfield and Fort Worth led the men of their churches on a mission trip to Sabine Pass, Texas where First Baptist Sabine Pass and most of the city received extensive flooding and wind damage from Hurricane Ike. Most of the residents and businesses were affected to the extent that they needed and still need teams of volunteers to assist them in the mudding out of their home or business. First Baptist Sabine Pass which is a two story facility had its entire first floor submerged under 7 plus feet of water. The first floor was to be their Outreach Center and they are anxious to get it mudded out and rebuilt so that they can begin to be of service to their community during this time.
Mud out is a dirty job. Due to the fact that the flood waters become contaminated with fuel, raw sewage and chemicals anything that comes in contact with the flood waters have to be decontaminated or thrown away. So mudding out a home involves clearing out all of the furniture and appliances in the home which in most cases have been damaged and are un-salvageable. All clothing, utensils, furniture and belongings that cannot be washed and decontaminated must be thrown away. The mud and slush that’s left in the building has to be shelved out and disposed of. The flooring in most cases has to be pulled up and thrown away. The sheet rock has to be cut out one foot above the water line and thrown away. Now the rooms of the affected home or business are ready to be washed down and treated with bleach, kills, or suitable chemicals to disinfect and protect against mold. Again, mud out is a dirty job but it is required before any rebuilding can take place. So where is the deeper insight in this? I’m glad you asked.
If the truth be told, our lives could be described in a similar fashion. Sin has lead many of us into deep pits of filth and debauchery. Because of ungodly choices we have deprived ourselves of God’s righteousness. In fact the Word of God declares that we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory. But thanks be to God, He has given His Son Jesus to mud us out! He has washes and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But for many of us the mudding out happens through the sacrificial life of another. God used or is using someone to get down and dirty with the hard to reach. He uses his children to enter into the lives of others, those that are far from Him so that they might be saved. He wants to cleanse and makes us whole. It’s like the men that came bringing the paralytic to Jesus. They went to great lengths which included carrying him, lifting him up, cutting out an opening to let him down into the presence of Jesus. And Jesus, seeing their faith healed the paralytic (Mark 2:1-5). So this bids the question, who are you suffering and sacrificing for so that God’s Spirit can reach a soul that is lost. How far are you willing to go for the sake of another? It’s not about you. Your suffering and sacrifice could be for the sake of someone else so that they might be saved. What a privilege! Are we willing to get down and dirty so that some soul can be saved and come into a righteous, peace and eternal relationship with our Lord. He did it for us, He came down from heaven and gave His life for us so that we could be saved and brought into an eternal relationship with Him. Thank God for the down and dirty saints that give of themselves for the sake of the lost. AMEN!!
Gerald Davis
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