The God Of Fresh Starts

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. —  Malachi 3:2

So here, God is declaring through the prophet Malachi that he is going to send someone to clean up the Temple. And this person, of course, is Jesus. And he is going to do two things. He going to refine and cleanse.

And these activities were common images for the people of God. They understood them because they were engaged in these activities all the time. They would bring burnt offerings to the Temple to purify themselves from sin. And they would wash their bodies, like their hands, feet, and clothes, to purify themselves after being exposed to something declared religiously unclean. These two activities were spiritual activities done for spiritual purposes.

But here, God declares that he is going to bring about a better burnt offering and a better washing. One that would cleanse all humanity of sin. One for all people in all time. One accomplished in a single man for all men. One that would not compare to the inadequate sacrifices the people and priests were bringing to God.

I believe everyone is searching for purity and cleansing. Sometimes we might think of it as a "do-over" or maybe a "second chance." But what we want is for an event to be permanently removed from the record of our life. We don't just want to forget it. We want it removed. Burned. Washed. Permanently. And that's what Jesus came to do. Remove sin permanently from the record of our life, so that we might be pure and restored in a right relationship with God so that we can enjoy eternal life.

So as we close off one year and begin a new one. Why not begin with a fresh start? Do it with Jesus. The one who provides all men with a sacrifice that actually removes sin and secures our eternity.

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. — Hebrews 9:12

ASK THIS: Are you ready for a fresh start?

DO THIS: Bring your life as a sacrifice to Him.

PRAY THIS: God, I bring all my sin, and all I am to you. I need a fresh start and a meaningful, perfect sacrifice.

PLAY THIS: Living Sacrifice.