Uncleanness
When we read the book of Leviticus, we read a lot about being "unclean" and the things that cause a person to be unclean. It shows us the basis for the old saying, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." God hates uncleanness, and it is His desire for us to be clean before Him. As we read His laws about uncleanness, we can see that part of the basis was that it was God's way of keeping His people healthy. However, there was much more to it than physical health. That is why God commanded Moses to "keep the Israelites from their uncleanness, so that they do no die by defiling My tabernacle that is among them." (Leviticus 15:31) Let's take a few minutes to delve into what God was telling them and us.
People were declared to be unclean, if they had leprosy or if they came into contact with bodily fluids. Leprosy was caused partly from bad hygiene, but it could be spread by contact, so people with leprosy were outcasts. Often people came into contact with bodily fluids through sexual activity or by contacting people or animals that had died. Even fabrics or houses could become unclean. God gave them ways to make the unclean things clean again and sacrifices to offer for those who were cleansed of leprosy. However, I think we can all see that we live in a world today that is filled with uncleanness. People do not try to avoid these things, but they choose to do things that are filled with uncleanness. It results in physical and spiritual defilement and even death.
Also, the Prophets used the word uncleanness to explain moral sins. They called on sinful, unclean people to repent and to be cleansed from their sins. We see much of this type of uncleanness today. The only solution for any uncleanness is the blood of Christ. He is the One who cleansed the lepers and cast out the demons from unclean people. He is the Only One who can cleanse our sins, because of His death on the Cross. Our world needs to repent of uncleanness and turn to Jesus for complete cleansing. We need to heed God's warning to Moses and keep our family, friends, and others from the things that make us physically and spiritually sick. We need to be the ones to call people to be clean in Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 16-19.
People were declared to be unclean, if they had leprosy or if they came into contact with bodily fluids. Leprosy was caused partly from bad hygiene, but it could be spread by contact, so people with leprosy were outcasts. Often people came into contact with bodily fluids through sexual activity or by contacting people or animals that had died. Even fabrics or houses could become unclean. God gave them ways to make the unclean things clean again and sacrifices to offer for those who were cleansed of leprosy. However, I think we can all see that we live in a world today that is filled with uncleanness. People do not try to avoid these things, but they choose to do things that are filled with uncleanness. It results in physical and spiritual defilement and even death.
Also, the Prophets used the word uncleanness to explain moral sins. They called on sinful, unclean people to repent and to be cleansed from their sins. We see much of this type of uncleanness today. The only solution for any uncleanness is the blood of Christ. He is the One who cleansed the lepers and cast out the demons from unclean people. He is the Only One who can cleanse our sins, because of His death on the Cross. Our world needs to repent of uncleanness and turn to Jesus for complete cleansing. We need to heed God's warning to Moses and keep our family, friends, and others from the things that make us physically and spiritually sick. We need to be the ones to call people to be clean in Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 16-19.