becoming clean

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one. ~Job 14:4

Job stated this as part of his lament over the frailty of human life. As was the theme of his complaint, Job recognized his own failings, but did not attribute them as the reason for his distress. He understood there to be something far deeper going on behind the scenes. He would never find out what it was, but God reminded him that he didn't need to know.

But Job's statement highlights the chief problem facing humanity. We are unclean, and there is no way for anything clean to come from us. There is nothing we can do. We are without hope.

And Job's declaration reminds me of a wonderful hymn I wish we sang more often than we do. It played on my Ipod yesterday, and it declares the hopelessness of man is done away with by the blood of Jesus Christ.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Robert Lowry, 1876)