By Nancy Karpenske
What does a car wash have in common with Communion? I”m not talking about the do-it-yourself car wash. Picture instead the one where you pull up, align your car correctly, and drive in. You sit in the comfort of your car, proceeding slowly through first the water, then the soap, then the powerful spray, then more rinsing, perhaps even blow-drying. Your car emerges spotless and shiny. You haven”t really lifted a finger.
It reminds me of a popular Christian song by Todd Agnew. In “Grace Like Rain” he says God washes away all our stains, just like rain falls down and cleans the earth.
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4, 5*).
You take your car to the car wash when layers of dirt and grime have accumulated. If you delay, the dirt on the car can transfer itself to your clothes.
During Communion, you present yourself to God. You are returning in your heart to the cleansing that took place when you came to the cross, when you acknowledged and accepted what Jesus had done for you. Communion itself is not a cleansing agent. But if you neglect meeting God there, it is possible for layers of sin and selfishness to accumulate in your heart. Your vision can be blurred. You begin to forget how much you need him.
Communion reminds me of what Jesus did for me. I could not clean myself. I had no access to robes of righteousness.
We return to Communion weekly because our memories are short, our distractions are many. In order to keep walking with Jesus daily, we need a reminder of where we started. The blood of Jesus purified us, redeemed us, justified us, brought us near to God, and made peace with him. Jesus is the source of our cleansing. “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
While the trays are passed, picture grace falling from Heaven. Picture your heart and mind being renewed and refreshed and made clean.
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*All Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Bible.
Nancy Karpenske serves as adults and women”s pastor at LifeBridge Christian Church, Longmont, Colorado.
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