Coming Clean: Why Our Hearts Need More Than a Quick Rinse

Keeping It Clean with Dr. Squatch

This Christmas, I got some Dr. Squatch bar soap in my stocking. It’s piney and wintry. When I close my eyes and take a whiff, it's like stepping into a snowy forest. Perhaps there's a Sasquatch there.

Not only does the soap smell fresh, but it makes me feel fresh. This isn’t soap to gently lather on, but one to scrub vigorously to remove layers of unclean, dead skin. When done, skin tingles from its newness. In a small way, I feel new, too.

Showers and exfoliation are vital for cleanliness. For a time, we can go without them. But with each passing day, we’ll feel a little itchier and less clean. As time goes on, we long for the feeling of hot water on our skin and the coarse soap scraping away the dead stuff.

Living with an Unclean Heart

Just as our physical bodies need refreshment, so do our hearts. The heart is the emotional center of the body. We can feel "heartsick" from the suffering of a loved one or have a "full heart" when someone does something kind for us.

Our hearts also tell us when something is off. For instance, sadness indicates something isn't the way it should be. And there are times we simply don’t feel good about ourselves.

We may feel ashamed of how we treated someone. Or embarrassed by the perverse thoughts we had. Over the course of a day, feelings can add up to a burden we carry, even into the next day.

Just like the need for a shower and sweet-smelling Squatch soap, we need a clean heart to restore our happiness.

Trying to Feel Better About Ourselves

There are a million ways for us to feel better about ourselves. We can turn to pleasure, indulging in a deep tissue massage or devouring a Taco Bell burrito. We can turn to distraction by watching a show or listening to music. We can even justify the way we’ve been and reason we shouldn’t be feeling as unclean as we do.

But these are all temporary fixes. Until we address the true need of our hearts, we’ll maintain the icky feeling.

Knowing Our Heart Condition

The truth is that our hearts are broken and sick. We all carry this burden in our fallen human condition. Though we were created for good, we’ve missed God’s ideal and the good life He intended for us. The stain of sin keeps us feeling low and in need of a refresh.

Unfortunately, we cannot clean our own hearts. But we can offer them to the One who can.

Healing Our Hearts

If you’ve realized your heart is sick, and you’re weary from the weight of sin and its stain, there’s a God who invites you to renewal. Forgiveness is found in Christ, and you don’t have to clean up your act before you come to him.

If you’ve been walking with Him in faith, you know your heart can still feel low and weak. Which is why we're given the gift of confession. Simply admitting our faults to a loving God reveals He is faithful to forgive us, again and again.

In this new year, you and I have a chance at a fresh start. Let’s experience the freedom of coming clean and righting our hearts.