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Everywhere you go these days you are confronted with signs saying ‘You must wear a face covering, sanitise your hands and maintain social distancing’

When you go to the shops, pubs, cafes you see a constant reminder;

Let’s keep our distance. Let’s keep slowing the spread. Please stay 2 metres apart. Stop the Spread of Contagion!

Stay home as much as possible. Keep washing your hands regularly

SOCIAL DISTANCING & FACE COVERINGS

The ancient Israelites practiced social distancing way before us. We see the pattern of social isolation, or quarantine, clearly throughout the book of Leviticus (particularly Leviticus 13)…‘those suffering serious disease must [among other things] cover their mouth and call out “Unclean! Unclean!” As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp’

The priests were put in charge of purification rites and ceremonies. Wherever there was ‘uncleanness’, people had to go into quarantine – blood was spilled (sacrifice) by the priests in order to cleanse the people from sin so that they could be made pure again – making them right with God and each other.

CLEAN HANDS & A PURE HEART

In the Book of Psalms, King David, a man close to God’s heart asks the question;

‘Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

In other words, who can come into God’s presence…

The answer; ‘Only those whose have clean hands and a pure heart, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.’

We cannot come into God’s presence with unclean hands, impurity and so on…

That’s why the ancient Israelites had cleansing rites for sin and purification rituals for the holy place- the site of God’s temple where He could dwell with His People

Our God is a holy God. Nothing impure can enter His presence. That’s why mankind was socially isolated from God and had to ritually wash (sanitise, wash your hands) before entering into his presence in the temple

LIVING IN AN UNCLEAN SOCIETY

Leviticus 18 lists a bunch of socially forbidden practices with the warning that; ‘anyone who commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community (socially isolated)’

The thing is, most Western Nations practice these socially forbidden practices with utter abandon! We can see this lists of forbidden practices showcased on daytime TV’s chat shows and reality TV programmes.

When Jesus foretells the future, he says among other things, that ‘because sin will be rampant everywhere, the love of many will grow cold’

What can we do when sin runs rampant everywhere? When everywhere we go is unclean…?

In ancient times, you would be placed into quarantine (social isolation) not only when you were unclean, but also when you ‘touched’ anything or anyone else that was ‘unclean’

WHEN WILL SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LOCKDOWN COME TO AN END?

As King David says, ‘Those with clean hands and a pure heart […] They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their saviour. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence…’

It then goes on to say; ‘Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter…’ – Psalm 24:3-6

Notice that the doors only open after there are clean hands and pure hearts…

So when will everywhere open back up again? When will the church buildings open again? Perhaps when we turn from idols and deception, humble ourselves with tears, sorrow and deep grief over our own sins, the sins of the Church and of the land and turn back to God in right relationship with the only one who can save us!

The only power that can make us holy (in other words, cleanse us from sin) is Jesus. So wholesale rejection of Jesus leaves us in our sin. We can wash our hands, but only He can purify our hearts and minds.

James, the brother of Jesus warns us;

‘Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honour’ – James 4:7-10

For those who DON’T know Jesus, now is the time to turn to him!

For those who DO know Jesus, now is a time to seek him like never before and to worship him in the beauty of holiness. Holiness is rarely taught and even more rarely practiced in today’s society…but the pure in heart will see God

Your local shops and cafes can provide you with hand sanitiser and force you to wear a face mask (indicating; ‘I’m unclean! I’m unclean!’), but only Jesus can cleanse the leper…he is willing…if only we, and our nations, would turn to him (not sanitiser) to be cleansed of our sin

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