“That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
I love ironing. It's probably my favorite chore around the house. For some reason, I find it relaxing and satisfying. It is also warm and cozy, especially if you do it in the winter.
God uses a fascinating image in Ephesians 5:27. It reminds me of ironing. He says that when He comes back to take His children home, they will have neither spot nor wrinkle, or any such thing.
There's a reason why Paul chose the words “spot” and “wrinkle.” When your clothes are dirty, you wash them first. You use detergent to remove the stains. God's detergent for our sins is the blood of Christ. “The blood of Jesus…cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). He is the One “who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Theologians call this justification. It means that once you accept Jesus, His blood cleanses you from all the dirt and filth. All your past sins are instantly forgiven! Isn't that amazing?
But there's a second word here. Wrinkle. After having taken your clothes out of the washer, they're not done. You need to put them in the dryer. You need to use heat. You want to iron your shirts so all the wrinkles come out. God's “wrinkle removers” are the trials and tribulations we have to go through. He says, “I will put [my people] into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold” (Zechariah 13:9).
Yet when it comes to our walk with God, we don't like the heat.
We would much rather prefer room temperature. But the fact that God actually puts us through trials is a good sign. It means He sees something precious in us that He likes to develop! He doesn't throw the wrinkled shirt away; He takes the iron and carefully removes one wrinkle at a time. He never moves too fast, and He always keeps His hand on the thermostat. If it gets too hot, He turns the heat down, and there is nothing the devil can do about it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
We need to stop pitying ourselves when the next trial comes. Instead of murmuring or complaining, we should imitate Job, who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Peter wrote:
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
I don't know why my family and I have had to go through certain trials. But I do know that He has used them to make us more loving, patient, meek, and merciful. Remember: “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). God will never allow something to happen to you that you can't handle with Jesus by your side. Walk with Him—and soon, your trials will be over. When you spend your first moments with Jesus in heaven, you won't even have words to speak about the sufferings you endured here (Romans 8:18). Heaven will be cheap enough!
“He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. ... In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.”
