Before There Was Hand Sanitizer
Long before we needed to do it, before we understood the benefits, before anyone would ever focus on personal hygiene to the extreme that we do so today - God said - "Wash or die!"
Exodus 30:17–21 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”
Two years ago during a 4th of July cookout I didn't wash my hands while I prepared meat to barbecue. Two trips to two different doctors and 7 days later, I recovered from bacteria in my intestinal tract that cost me time, health and well being. In fact, the pain was so bad I wanted to die.
When you read the Bible, please remember how ancient it is. These words are spoken to men who will be handling meat and animals for most of the day. In perfect timeless wisdom, God says, "wash your hands... so that (you) may not die."
God knew before anyone that proper sanitation was essential to the care and handling of food source animals. The benefits of cleanliness are evidenced in good health. Today we have caught up to what God spoke thousands of years ago: we can prevent near-fatal or fatal diseases if we take proper care to wash.
Yet how often we totally disregard God in the matters that lead to spiritual, mental and emotional defilement. In that regard, we are still in the dark ages. We treat our minds and spirits like unwashed hands, feeding them trash and contemptuous material believing it's perfectly fine. It really isn't. Too much and too often we flood our homes and families with the garbage ideas of the world in regard to sex, money and other moral issues believing we can mentally absorb these ideas and not suffer.
Yet all the indications of our world SHOUT at us otherwise! Family dissolution is an epidemic of our times. Personal happiness has been sold as sex without limits and making as much money for ourselves without radical generosity. We have isolated our lives with large homes and destroyed our emotional capacities with disastrous sexual standards so much that lead many people to give up hope in this life altogether.
How many homes have been destroyed by the illusions one family member who believes their own personal happiness is MOST important at the expense of everyone else? Where do we get these ideas? We feed off them in our entertainment choices. You hear a lie often enough eventually it seems like the truth. The old adage really didn't have it totally right. It's not "garbage in garbage out", it is, "garbage in, garbage through and through". The only ones who suffer with unsanitary mental appetites are those who feed off of them. It is not religious legalism when it could save your home, personal future and family! It's actually just good wisdom.
Colossians 3:5–6 (ESV) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Humans need a revolution of personal spiritual hygiene that matches our obsession with physical sanitation. We need to catch up to where God is! He knows what is good and proper for our minds. He knows what will benefit us! It is not the filth of the world but rather it is the unmeasurable goodness of our God! Mediate on HIM, think on His beauty, enjoy His creation with pure intentions and a generous, thankful heart. These are what make for a long and healthy life in body and mind.
Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Exodus 30:17–21 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”
Two years ago during a 4th of July cookout I didn't wash my hands while I prepared meat to barbecue. Two trips to two different doctors and 7 days later, I recovered from bacteria in my intestinal tract that cost me time, health and well being. In fact, the pain was so bad I wanted to die.
When you read the Bible, please remember how ancient it is. These words are spoken to men who will be handling meat and animals for most of the day. In perfect timeless wisdom, God says, "wash your hands... so that (you) may not die."
God knew before anyone that proper sanitation was essential to the care and handling of food source animals. The benefits of cleanliness are evidenced in good health. Today we have caught up to what God spoke thousands of years ago: we can prevent near-fatal or fatal diseases if we take proper care to wash.
Yet how often we totally disregard God in the matters that lead to spiritual, mental and emotional defilement. In that regard, we are still in the dark ages. We treat our minds and spirits like unwashed hands, feeding them trash and contemptuous material believing it's perfectly fine. It really isn't. Too much and too often we flood our homes and families with the garbage ideas of the world in regard to sex, money and other moral issues believing we can mentally absorb these ideas and not suffer.
Yet all the indications of our world SHOUT at us otherwise! Family dissolution is an epidemic of our times. Personal happiness has been sold as sex without limits and making as much money for ourselves without radical generosity. We have isolated our lives with large homes and destroyed our emotional capacities with disastrous sexual standards so much that lead many people to give up hope in this life altogether.
How many homes have been destroyed by the illusions one family member who believes their own personal happiness is MOST important at the expense of everyone else? Where do we get these ideas? We feed off them in our entertainment choices. You hear a lie often enough eventually it seems like the truth. The old adage really didn't have it totally right. It's not "garbage in garbage out", it is, "garbage in, garbage through and through". The only ones who suffer with unsanitary mental appetites are those who feed off of them. It is not religious legalism when it could save your home, personal future and family! It's actually just good wisdom.
Colossians 3:5–6 (ESV) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
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