The mirror before me reflects a tired, wearied man; a man who knows his shortcomings and failures only all to well. Beneath the fleshy exterior lies a sinful soul that houses a hardened heart. The reflection grimaces as he realizes that he has failed yet again, he has done that which he promised he would not. He finds that his feet are thick with dirt; he has walked in places he shouldn’t. No matter how hard he scrubs, the filth remains securely fastened to his feet. He begins to find himself tripping more and more as the mud continues to build. His walk has been hindered, his movement is sluggish. The immense weight of a marred past begins to press heavily upon his face- memories of past failures, wrong choices, and frivolous fancies. As his brow furrows he parts his lips as if to speak. In the end I’m startled to find that it is my own voice that softly utters the word, “Why?”
Yes, this is the question that we, as sinners, ask ourselves when the weighty realization of our utterly decrepit nature takes on very real meaning. Why, as a Christian, do we fall when we have already been given directions to our final destination? Why do we wander when the path has been so clearly marked with the crimson blood of a murdered Savior? Why do we continue to allow sin to run rampant in our lives without checks and balances? Why do we preach one thing and live another? Why do we entertain sinful thoughts for even a fleeting moment?
The reflection in the mirror stirs and my vision begins to blur. I can see that he is crying; I am crying. Tears give way to wet paths that run down the tattered cheeks of a sinful man. He smiles weekly as yet another realization completely overcomes him. The room feels as if it has been turned upside down and a cooling calm begins to spread over me. I look down to see a Savior washing my dirty feet. My protests are met with calm rebukes as all my misgivings, screw ups, and failures vanish without a trace. I find a humbled man in the mirror before me; a man who realizes that there is no human rhyme or reason to the action that just took place. It is a concept greater than humanity- God’s mercy and love to a people who no longer remember the definition of perfection.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ- we serve such a wonderful Lord! Though we fail time and time again, God is always there for us. We must always realize that his death and resurrection is a finished work. He has already washed our feet- our sins are forgiven. We should not become entranced by our sinful reflection or the lives we have left behind. Let us always run to Christ in our dark times and embrace the forgiveness that he has so graciously provided us with. Our sin is a very REAL thing my friends, it is not a vague concept. We are sinners, we do mess things up, but God is also real. He is perfect, and he has chosen to provide a means of sanctification to his children that he loves! May others see Christ’s love and forgiveness in our own lives this day and as we live genuine, thankful lives to and for him. Praise God for a Savior who is not above washing our dirty feet.
