God's Grace in a Dishpan

God’s Grace in a Dishpan

Written by Tammy Washburn

I dislike hand-washing dishes! I carefully avoid this common household chore with an expensive modern convenience that produces sparkling clean dishes with a push of a button! Since this magic machine was not found as a fixture in my friend’s kitchen, I found myself elbow deep in soap suds as questions poured from her heart regarding the topic of God’s Grace or unmerited favor. As I gazed at the bubbles bouncing off my fingertips, I discovered the simple process of washing dishes by hand beautifully illustrates the biblical doctrines of Salvation, Sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The first step of washing dishes in soapy water perfectly illustrates the simplicity of the plan of Salvation. Imagine a drinking glass that is completely covered with mud. Appearing like it had been buried in the ground, the glass sports a mixture of dry & wet dirt that clings to its smooth rounded surface. This glass cannot be presently used for drinking purposes because no one would volunteer to drink out of a vessel that yields only mouthfuls of mud. This drinking glass visually presents us with a concept of how our sins look to God. We believe ourselves to be perfectly formed, but God sees how the sin covering our lives renders us as unclean vessels. God, before the beginning of time, provided a way we could be washed clean long before we saw the need. When we realize our fallen state, we are given the opportunity to repent of our sins and plunge ourselves into the cleansing, forgiving power of Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Just as we carefully wash all the dirt and grime off our drinking glasses, Jesus Christ lovingly provides the same cleansing process in our hearts and lives by forgiving us of our sins. Just as we move the drinking glass to the next step of the dish-washing process, our souls must also move into the next step of cleansing, Sanctification.The second step of rinsing dishes in clean water parallels the beauty of Sanctification. Even though the drinking glass had been cleaned of it’s grime, you might notice that the soap bubbles clinging to its surface. The drinking glass although clean is unable to perfectly perform its main function because it is greatly in need of the second rinsing process to make it completely clean. Even after we have repented and asked Jesus to cleanse us from our sins, we still suffer from our “Adamic Nature” or in other words, the “old man” or nature we have inherited from Adam. After Salvation, we still need a second cleansing or “rinsing”. Hebrews 13:12 tells us, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Ephesians 5:25-27 compares Christ love for us to a covenant marriage and how He wants us to be “set apart” and “clean”. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ,that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” This cleansing process is a “second definite work of grace” known as Sanctification. While Salvation cleanses us of our past sins and makes us new creatures in Christ, Sanctification eradicates the “desire to sin” freeing us from the chains of addictive habits and self-will. This second definite work of Grace allows us to live Holy and sin free. Just as the drinking glass becomes a clean vessel ready for service after the rinsing process, Sanctification prepares us to be useful vessels of honor, set apart for the Master’s use. Like the drinking glass, our souls are now clean and ready to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The third step of filling and using clean dishes provides the insight we need regarding the baptism of the Holy Ghost. After the drinking glass has been washed and rinsed it becomes a vessel that can be used for the purpose it was created for, providing refreshment. A clean drinking glass is often put into a cabinet to remain clean with the intention of using it in the future. However, even in the cabinet there is a danger of contamination. God speaks to us in John 10:10 that “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Ultimately the glass’ purpose is not fulfilled until it is filled. Our lives are the same way. Even though we have experienced the miracle of Salvation and the cleansing of Sanctification, we were still created for a purpose, to be used by God and to be filled with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5 and Romans 15:13 explains this concept to us. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Just like a drinking glass, we can be filled to the brim, but how much better it is to be filled to overflowing! Imagine placing a glass under the constant full force flow of the faucet where it is IMMERSED AND OVERFLOWING with pure water, never becoming stagnant, never collecting contaminates! Our hearts and souls can be so overflowing with the Holy Ghost that His Spirit spills out of us in a constant flow giving us the power for service and the power to reject all that Satan throws at us. Willingly living under the flow guarantees that we are full of & overflowing with the Spirit and cleansed (perfected) daily.

As you can see, washing dishes beautifully illustrates the biblical doctrines of Salvation, Sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The cleansing, rinsing and filling process closely parallels the steps our hearts and lives must go through to become clean vessels so that can be used for God’s service. The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to make sure that our lives are clean and pure. 1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” (1 Thessalonians 4:4) “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Psa 46:4