“In order that He would present for Himself the glorious congregation, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but so that His bride would be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27 ONM)
If any of you grew up in my generation you will be very familiar with the iron and the ironing board. During that time, there was no going from the washing machine to the dryer and then actually putting on the clothes. Most of the clothing was all cotton which had to be ironed. If you were able to afford luxury clothing, it most likely would have been rayon or silk, which required an expense of dry cleaning. If you are familiar with those days, you know how important it was to make sure all the creases were perfected with an iron and a damp handkerchief. The spot that wouldn’t come out with our homemade remedies would now become a tie-dye shirt. We still today want our garments free of wrinkles and blemishes. Various materials available now have made our laundry care a lot easier. Those hard to press jeans now can go into the dryer and then be worn. We can go to the store and buy products which can take care of our dry cleaning items in the dryer.
The Lord, also is still looking for His church and body to be spot, wrinkle, and blemish free. The difference is no matter if you are from my generation, generations before, or even a future generation not yet born, His spot, wrinkle, and blemish removing product does not change. It will never need to be improved on from time to time or from year to year. God’s word never changes. His word is what we need to clean out any blemishes that we have in our lives. It will also be the starch needed to get rid of those stubborn wrinkles that won’t go away. Jesus said in Mark 13:31, that heaven and earth will pass away, but not His word. Oh to know that our God has a product, His Word, which is ever lasting with no expiration date. It can be the spiritual “club soda” that will take out any spots we have in our lives. It can be the spiritual “dry cleaner” for those delicate and painful areas that hold us in bondage. “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). So, as our God’s consuming fire starts shaking and heating up like the “dryer” looking for the unshakable, let’s be like Hebrews 12:27 and be the ones to remain and come out wrinkle free.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God. (Zechariah 13:9) Praise our Mighty God, look at His de-wrinkle, spot removing, no blemish process! Look at how precious a bride He makes for presentation if we give Him the daily opportunity to mend the wear and tear fabrics of our lives.
Jesus said He was coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, so let’s start getting that spot-removing Word of God we need, and the healing Word that will smooth out all the wrinkles that affect our lives.
W
