NOTHING IS UNCLEAN

In Leviticus 11, God spent much time telling the sons of Aaron what animals are unclean. The clean animals the Israelites were free to eat, but unclean ones are not to be touched (at least by the Levites) or eaten. In fact, an unclean animal that dies on something holy makes the holy thing unclean, at least for a time. Unclean was a powerful concept.

Then comes the passage in Acts 10, when Peter is given a vision. The end of the vision is this statement from God: “Do not call anything unclean that I have made clean.” The immediate context God made clear: Peter may enter the home of Cornelius, and the Gentiles may receive the Gospel. Extended out, God made it clear that they did not have to become circumcised, ever, to be God’s people.

I was thinking, “What is the difference between everything that was formerly unclean being clean now, and everything formerly clean being unclean now?” In other words, everything now is holy, everything is clean, rather than nothing being holy, there being no sacred, nothing being clean.

Because everyone is clean, there is no distinction at all among people—Jews, Gentiles, Arabs, terrorists, people with AIDS, slave owners, outcasts, slaves, the educated, the homeless—all are now clean! That doesn’t mean that all are saved, and it doesn’t mean that there is no such thing as “clean” anymore, in the sense that there is no consecration or dedication to the Lord. But what it means is that anyone can receive the Gospel, and no one is left out.

“LORD, I thank You that while I was unclean, lost in sin and selfishness, You did not regard me to be unclean and unworthy of Your speaking to me. Jesus is the one who went outside the camp, the one who became sin for me, so that I could be washed, I could be purified, I could be cleansed of all guilt. You spoke, and when You spoke, You called me, and when You called me, I answered, I awoke, the chains fell off, and You washed me, You purified me, You made me holy, set apart for You. Hallelujah! Amen!”