Growing up, my Mom made sure we were dressed up for Easter in spanking brand new clothes. We got a new Sunday dress, new shoes, possibly a new Sunday hat, new purse, new socks and even new underwear! Then my Dad always bought each of us an Easter corsage. On Easter morning, we woke up early, hunted for our Easter baskets, helped Mom get the Easter dinner in the oven, took our showers, dressed in our new clothes, took a family picture and went to church to praise God for beating death. In a way, it was a preview of what it will be like when we enter Heaven.
Since God is holy, we need to be clothed with holiness to come into His presence for eternity. The problem is, even if we are all dressed up for Easter, we still are not holy enough. We need Jesus’ sacrifice to clothe us in His blood and wash us completely clean of sin. The Psalmist explains how only God and Jesus can make us completely clean.
Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.
Wash me thoroughly from my guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my wrongdoings,
And my sin is constantly before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in guilt,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in secret You will make wisdom known to me.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And wipe out all my guilty deeds.
Create in me a clean heart, God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips,
So that my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.
-Psalm 51:1-17
The closest we can come to God washing us clean, is Easter Sunday dress. It is a lot of fun to dress up and “take the Easter Parade”, but it is a far cry what God does for us when we allow Him to clean our lives. He sent His son Jesus to clothe us in His righteousness. Once clothed white as snow, we are saved from our guilt, and filled with not just happiness for a time, but eternal joy because we know we will live forever in Heaven, lit by the love of God and His holiness.
Praise God for His plan of salvation and the cloak of Jesus.
Photo credit 1: The Miller Effect 2021. https://themilleraffect.com/matching-brother-sister-easter-outfits/
