White Collar Crime

I cut myself shaving on a semi regular basis. If you wonder why I even bring it up, please read this entry from September 16, 2007 to make the connection.

Worship had just concluded this morning when Russell Carr turned to me and said, "Hey, you know you have blood on your collar." I didn't know. I was wearing a white oxford, button down dress shirt with a tie. Leaving the auditorium, I went into the restroom and checked my reflection in the mirror. Russell was right. I must have nicked my neck shaving and I didn't catch it. Hopefully, a spray of SHOUT stain remover can make it like new. It won't be worn again until I find out.

It's funny but Russell failed to compliment the 99.99% of my CHAPS shirt that was pristine. It was freshly laundered and I even had given my best effort at ironing before putting it on. The blood spot wasn't much bigger than the ones they investigate on CSI or one of its copycat crime shows but it was evident. If Russell saw it, he wasn't the only one. How many blood drops did it take to stain my shirt? Just one. It's the same with sin. It only takes one to separate us from God. In an oft-quoted passage from the pages of Isaiah, the Lord weighs in on the sin dilemma, and its antidote, in colorful phrase:
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool."
Before I can wear it again, my shirt has to be scrubbed. My soul must be made spotless as well. Not coincidentally, both were rendered unclean by my own indiscretions. One I can restore by myself while one is totally in the hands of the Savior. I have confidence in the Lord. He runs the best laundry ever!

Applicable quote of the day:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through, not without pain but without stain."
C.S. Lewis

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com