The Lint Trap

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." - Isaiah 1:18 (NIV). 

Every time I put a load of laundry into the dryer and remove the filter, I am amazed at the amount of lint that is trapped there. Where does it all come from? The clothes have been washed and washed over and over again, yet the filter becomes filled with lint that must be emptied.


Though we strive to live a more righteous life, we, having a sinful nature, still sin. Our sin gathers together, just like the lint, left on the clothes washed over and over, still gathers in the lint trap. There is still sin left and caught in our lives -- sin that must be emptied out.


We would be caught in the trap and left there forever if it were not for Jesus' cleansing presence in our lives. He is the one who gave us freedom from gathered sin, and released us from the trap, when He died on the cross at Calvary.


Now, all it takes is time spent in prayer, to ask God's forgiveness for those sins on a regular basis, to keep our lives cleansed and white as snow. It is here with God in prayer that we are able to empty ourselves of pent-up sin caught by our conscience -- "our lint trap" -- and emptied with prayer.


Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. - Hebrews 10:22 (NIV).