An old familiar motto reads: “Cleanliness is next to godliness”, and in our Bible we read that the Deity required the people of Israel to observe the laws of sanitation in every activity. They had to wash their hands before eating, remove all leaven, reject certain animals and, foods as unclean, exclude all contagious diseases (such as leprosy) from the camp; and it was even required that the utensils used by the priests be regularly purified. All these regulations were “a shadow of good things to come”, so we find today that the laws of hygiene and sanitation have improved the health and saved the lives of many’. Our future existence depends on clean living, clean water, clean air and the avoidance of all pollution.
These principles can be applied to our spiritual welfare and our eternal salvation. We must not sweep the dirt under the rug, but purge out the old leaven, “for evil companions corrupt good morals” (Revised Version). The Scriptures provide us with these guide lines:
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart . . . ” (Psalms 24:3,4).
“Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalms 119:9).
“Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15 :3 ).
. Cleanse thou me from secret faults” (Psalms 19:12).
Natural disease often comes to us by contagion, unseen microbes, germs or uses, but if we confess our faults and pray for one another we may be healed from spiritual contagion (James 5:16).
Pollution
Christianity, like many of our rivers, has become polluted by the false ideas thrown into life’s stream along the way. First century Christians observed baptism as a burial in water, after the belief of the Gospel, but for the remission of sins today an infant is sprinkled with a few drops of water by priest or clergy
Paul foresaw the moral deterioration coming to Ephesus. “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things . . . ” ( Acts 20:30). John warned the ecclesias of Asia against the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and the ideas of Jezebel being taught among them (Revelation 2:6,15,20).
In Rome the Emperor Constantine (A.D. 325) called a conference of priests and bishops to settle a dispute concerning a new idea that the Deity consisted of three persons in one godhead, co-equal, co-eternal. This was called the doctrine of the Trinity. It was approved by a slight majority and has been accepted by modern Christendom. The doctrine of one God only and Jesus Christ His Son, is found in (Mark 12:32; 1st Timothy 2:5; James 2:19).
Speaking of our times (the last days) Paul warned Timothy that men would turn from the truth and turn to fables (2nd “Timothy 4:4), such as the doctrine of devils (1st Timothy 4:1), abstaining from meats and forbidding to marry (1st Timothy 4:3). A recent dispatch from Europe notes that 410 priests have resigned from the Roman Catholic church because of the restrictions on marriage.
We find pollution coming over the air from Russia. A Moscow radio reports in the New York Times: –Our astronauts have found no evidence of a God, no angels, or any celestial beings, therefore all ideas of anyone going to heaven and returning to earth are thoroughly discredited,”
Our Bible tells us what the Deity thinks of Russia. . . Behold, I am against thee, 0 Gog. . (Ezekiel 39:1). . . I will put my hook in thy nose . .. and I will turn thee back. ” (Isaiah 37:29). Events in the Middle East are divinely foretold.
The Moscow radio reminds us of the words of Peter: ” . . There shall come in the list days scoffers saying Where is the promise of his coming? for all things continue is they were tron the beginning of creation (2nd Peter 3 3 1)
God shall send Jesus Christ and Jesus said “I go away and come again unto you( John 14: 28) At HIS ascersion the angels said This same Jesus shall so come in like manner is to have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11) And unto them that look for him shall he appear a second time. ( Hebrew s 9 28)
This is the only remedy for a sick world and ninth of its suffering is due to moral and spiritual pollution Spiritual sanitation is more important than physical hygiene and as pure water and air are essential for this life so the water that I shall give shall spring up into everlasting life ( John 4 14)
Jeremiah predicted that the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth and say Surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profit ( Jeremiah 16 19) An antidote for smog and fog (natural and spiritual) is to keep in mind things that are pure honest lovely and of good report ( Philippi ins 4 8)
Isaiah suggests a practical method of cleansing Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil Learn to do well seek judgment believe the oppressed judge the fatherless plead for the widow (Isaiah 1: 16 17 )
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One