When you think of a pig, what comes to mind? I think of a pinkish creature with a little tail that curls up. Then, I immediately imagine delicious bacon with scrambled eggs and some warm toast.
Someone else might picture pigs playing in the mud. Let's imagine this picture together and consider the following scenario: there's a farm with a caretaker who picks up an excited, little pig. Known as Mr. Piggy, he got so dirty from playing in the mud that it caked in his rolls and hurt. The caretaker picks him up and reminds him that he's been told to stay clean. He nonetheless gets a nice bath and all the dirt is washed away.
Alas, it is in Mr. Piggy's nature to get dirty again. Once it rains and puddles form on the ground, he heads to the muddiest one. He rolls around and splashes mud into the air as he oinks for joy.
But then, there's Ms. Piglet. She used to love the mud but one day, after a scrub down, she saw her reflection and liked how clean she looked. Now, she completely avoids mud. She is so clean that she lives in the caretaker's home. There, she has a bowl for her food and never fights with other pigs for a meal. She also gets regular belly rubs. On rainy mornings, Ms. Piglet enjoys lying by the open door to watch the rain. She doesn't understand why Mr. Piggy always jumps into the mud.
While far from a perfect analogy, this piggly tale illustrates aspects of the Christian life. The Caretaker is Jesus, who keeps coming in to wash off our sins and make us clean whenever we genuinely repent. Yet, some see the next puddle of mud, which represents sin, and dive in without hesitation. That puddle just seems to beckon them. It's all because we humans are prone to sin.
Then there are some like Ms. Piglet who enjoy remaining mud-free. They glow instead of having their shine tarnished by sin and they are well-cared for by the Caretaker in his home instead of in a pig pen. Plus, because they live in the house, they will never end up as bacon on someone's plate someday.
Mr. Piggy doesn't realize that there are consequences to repeatedly submitting to his nature. Because he keeps rejecting that cleansing, someday, the Caretaker will stop washing him and allow him to be who he wants to be - a pig covered in muddy sin. Psalm 81:12 states, "So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices."
God wants each of us to stay away from sin's muddy puddles and enjoy being cleansed by Jesus. This brings peace, assurance, and more. The cleansing also means we gain eternal life in heaven. This is God's offer to us and it is free of charge. We just have to choose to be clean and the caretaker, Jesus, will consistently scrub us down when we sin and repent.
May we all accept and appreciate the Caretaker's loving cleansing and turn away from the muddy puddles of sin that want to keep us from living comfortably, IJMN, Amen
God bless us all.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for gathering us this day to honor You and Your word. Thank You for the opportunity to glorify Your name with our praise and worship. Thank You for the privilege of praying for others and lifting their needs up to You.
Thank You for You will not forget those who genuinely thanked You. Nor will You forget those who gave to others in prayer during fellowship today. Praise be to You, oh Lord!
Lord, we echo the people of Jerusalem, when they praised You, saying, 2 Chronicles 20:21 - “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
And, I pray over today's participants in accordance with Your word in Isaiah 55:12-13 - You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
IJMN, Amen!!!