Boys seem to need to be told by their mothers that “cleanliness is next to godliness.” With boys, though, cleanliness is also next to impossible. There is some truth in both positions. This axiom does not appear in the Bible in this order of words, but we are told the blood of Christ makes us clean (1 John 1:7) and that being healed of a disease was involved in being made clean (Luke 5:12-14). There is no doubt that keeping a high degree of cleanliness is important for our health. Clean water and well prepared foods help us stay physically healthy and strong. We do the best we can, but we know that we are not perfect and at times we transmit or receive a bug.

Spiritual cleanliness is more important when we think of eternity. It is virtually impossible for a person to keep themselves totally clean spiritually because we make mistakes and have deep inner flaws that we are working on—and so the righteous man “falls” or slips during their lives (Proverbs 24:16). The important point is that the person who falls also rises again; that is, Jesus Christ reaches out His hand to help us rise and brushes us off so that we remain clean. Spiritual cleanliness is a close and daily walk with our Creator. That is possible.