Washing Instructions

Older readers may remember "Bathless Groggins" as the scrufy, fly-blown character in the old-time Li'l Abner cartoon strip, who prided himself on his never having bathed. If he served no other purpose, grubby old "Bathless" led me to thank God that I would never be forced to live a lifetime totally unwashed.

Just as the body needs cleansing, so also the soul. "Having our bodies washed," we need also to "draw near to God,...having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from guilty conscience" (Heb 10:22). The psalmist struggled to keep his heart cleansed: "In vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" (Ps73:13). But our God likes to bathe his sin-splattered children every time they need it.

I've always felt that the motto, "cleanliness is next to godliness," should read, "cleanilness is godliness" - when it refers to cleanliness of soul, by which it resembles the purity of God himself. As Paul tells the repentant Corinthians, "You were washed, you were sanctified" (1 Cor 6:11). this sanctifying "washing" leads us to a saving "washing": He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously" (Ti 3:5-6).

If you enjoy a bath, that's the ultimate bathing experience!