Wool-ite

“Behind every successful woman is a basket of dirty laundry.”

I talk to a lot of women who hate laundry.  I’m not exactly sure why, but I suspect that it’s because laundry is never-ending.  Regardless of how much time we devote to the upkeep of our homes, the laundry is one area that’s never going to be finished.  It’s never going to be completely caught up.  I don’t mind it though.  I mean, it’s not like I have to use a scrub board or anything.  Of chores, modern day laundry, for me, isn’t so bad.

Most women, I assume, have a very particular washing routine – – – a method to the madness.  Me?  I have two types of laundry: regular and real.  And then each type is sorted into piles by color.   

For my regular, play or “knock-about” clothes, to be washed with regular ol’ Tide, I faithfully separate the lights from the reds and the darks.  They’re usually washed on either the normal or permanent press cycle.

For my real, church or work clothes, to be washed with Woolite, I faithfully separate by individual color.  Reds.  Whites.  Blues.  Blacks.  Greens.  Browns.  And they’re all washed on the gentle or hand washable cycle.

One Tuesday evening, I stood in front of the washing machine, debating which real pile to Woolite first.  I looked down at the blues.  I considered the pieces that were on top.  A floral, navy blazer from The Limited.  A solid, soft blue pantsuit from Banana Republic.

But then I looked at some of the other pieces in the blue, Woolite pile, those that had ended up closer to the bottom.  Dark blue Levi jeans.  A random blue sweater may have been thrown in there too.  

Those nice, yet slightly rough, denim jeans were going to be washed with that nicely tailored pantsuit.  Same color palette, different material.  All fine pieces, all worn for different purposes.

Hmmm… “Interesting,” I thought.  “That’s just like the blood of Jesus and the Church.” 

Laundry…from the perspective of the Cross. 

Wait…what?  Yeah, yeah.  I know, I know.  Laundry and the Cross don’t really make sense.  But yet, if you really think about it, they do. 

Follow me here.  I’m learning that the message of Jesus, at least for me, can best be seen in the simple things.  This infinite God cares enough to meet me, and teach me, in the finite details.  Seeing the principles of God in everyday living helps me to apply understanding in my everyday life.  So, for me, lessons are everywhere – – – even in the laundry room.

But anyway… perhaps you can tell that I’m a little particular about my clothing, especially those that I Woolite.  Not only do I want them thoroughly clean, but I also use this special detergent because I am careful to preserve their stylistic integrity: vibrant color, correct fit and proper shape.

The book of Revelation tells us that at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Church, the bride of Christ, will be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”  Looks like Jesus does laundry too.

Isaiah says, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean…Learn to do good…Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” 

Wool-ite.

“…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 

But He sorts after He washes.  Not by color or ethnicity, religious denomination or socioeconomic status, but by the diversity of our gifts and callings.  Consider I Corinthians 12:4-13.  We’re all fine pieces, all cleansed to be used in the earth for different purposes.   

The Bible makes several references to the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.  That cleanser, that detergent, purifies us for the work of the ministry. It doesn’t, however, guarantee that life will always be a delicate, gentle cycle.  Sometimes it’s a press that seems constant, even permanent. The blood does assure us, though, that we have access to grace and mercy.  And regardless of how dirty we may have been, how we may have branded ourselves, or what cloth we may believe that we’ve been cut from, His blood washes us all thoroughly and to the same degree of cleanliness and spiritual integrity.   

The same blood that Jesus shed for Mary Magdalene, who’d been demonically possessed, was also shed for His mother Mary, who’d been highly favored by God.  His blood has no respect of person.  It cleans the corporate executive and the stay-at-home mom.  The doctoral candidate and the high school dropout.  The prostitute and the virgin.  The same blood.  For one.  The same redemption.  For all.   

When we wash clothes, we’re meticulous to keep the reds from our whites; we don’t want them to bleed.  Jesus, on the other hand, purposed to bleed so that we could be made white.  Although His crucifixion was a one-time event, His blood is always washing and eternally working.    

PRINCIPLE:  “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”  Hebrews 9:14