Lifting up bloody hands...

Swarms of people poured into the sanctuary that morning, dressed up in the most formidable attires. As she walked down the aisle to take a seat three rows from the front pew, she wondered how many people had the same story as she did. She was not looking for salvation any more, she had been there on that altar many times, to give her life, or so they called it. But every time she did so, the minute she left the sanctuary and went back home, it would feel like she never committed that act of righteousness. Every cell in her body would become sour all of a sudden, and she would go back to doing the same things she used to do before. She was looking for something that she could physically touch with her hand that was a living proof that God existed, and as long as she was still searching for that physical manifestation, she was going to keep doing these dark things...things she couldn't even mention out loud...the murders, the deceit, the secret lies, and the hidden traps...she would just keep lifting up her bloody hands...

She could stop right now because she had a conscience...she really wanted to stop, but she didn't know how. But as she heard him preach on this day, the tears began to freely pour..."I need to come clean..."

The minister was reading from Isaiah and from Jude. From Isaiah he read chapter 1:15-20 where God was saying to the people, "when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good..."come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool, if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Then he flipped over to the book of Jude and began to read verse 12 "these are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots..."

Imagine being reduced to a "spot" amongst a crowd of people; called a "cloud without water" and a "late autumn tree without fruits." It means that it is possible to go through the daily rituals of a believer and not necessarily be one. You can go through the motions and not the emotions. A cloud is an accumulation of water vapor, ready to pour down torrents of rain...but a cloud without water is one that lacks the potential of rain. You know the word, have read it several times, but it hasn't taken any solid roots in your heart, and therefore you cannot produce any fruits...you cannot truly live your life as you should...

You're a house that has been built on sinking sand instead of solid rock. But today God is saying "enough of the lies and the deceit...lifting up bloody hands will get you no where." God does not look at the outward appearance, but He looks inside your heart, He knows every little thing that you think about. If you come to Him with clean hands, then He will come and dwell in your temple.

He is looking for the remnant again, He is making another selection again...just like in the days of Noah, He will only select a few who worship Him with clean hands...only just the few who worship God in honest truth...I want to be part of this selection, do you?