Then he took him by the hand and led him into a very large parlor that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the interpreter called for a man to sweep. now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that christian had almost therewith been choked.
then said the interpreter to damsel that stood by, "bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room"; the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.
CHRISTIAN: "What means this?"
INTERPRETER:"this parlor is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel. the dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that brought the water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith. This is to show thee that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) form sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbit it, but doth not give power to subdue. (46)
Again, as thou sawest, the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure. This is to show thee that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then i say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the king of glory to inhabit." (47)
(46)
romans 7:6But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
1 corinthians 15:56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
romans 5:20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
(47)
john 15:3You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
ephesians 5:26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
acts 15:9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith
(The above was taken from The pilgram's progress by john bunyan)
after reading the above passage this morning in my devotion time it got me to thinking, how many christians are walking around hearts so full of dust that the least breeze will stir it up into a cloud? bringing with it all kinds of past regrets and sins? I pray that we would submit to the holy spirit and let him come water us so that the dust of the past might be washed clean. Oh spirit have your way in us, have your way in me wash me till i'm spotless!
His grace is all sufficient and is there with us even when we aren't worthy of it. he calls us all to submit to him to let him live through us. Most don't want to believe we aren't in control. As much as we don't want to admit it, surrender is totally worth it. let him wash us white as snow!
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