Clean more than you can see.

You, no doubt, have heard the phrase, "Give it a lick and a promise!" Usually this phrase is directed toward somebody cleaning something and I have used the phrase myself. Years ago when I was a 'newbie' custodian in the State General Hospital, I heard a few of my co-workers tell me to "give it a lick and a promise' and it never really set well with me. Their rationale was pointed toward all the work one needed to complete in a 7.5 hour shift. They didn't think it was possible to do all the work with excellence so they sort of adopted the mindset of "we'll give it a lick and a promise' to make sure all the work gets done. I always tried to envision myself hospitalized and how I would feel if my room and bathroom weren't cleaned well.

In my mind, if you are going to do a job, you should do it with excellence. If good or above average work is produced then at least the effort was put forth. After two years of working as a cleaning specialist at the hospital, I was assigned to clean operating suites between surgical procedures. Let me ask you a question. If I operated under the premise of cleaning the operating suite with 'a lick and a promise' mindset, would you entertain having surgery in that suite? Didn't think so....

It doesn't matter if it's a surgical suite or your home bathroom, cleanliness is important.

CONFESSION TIME: I have a special fondness for cleaning windows and they are definitely my peaches and cream. Phew, I can only imagine my new career as window washer. The phone would never stop ringing. Sa-Weet! From time to time, I'll help clean bathrooms in our home. I actually enjoy cleaning commodes........................................okay, I'm back. I had to answer the phone and now have 47 jobs to clean bathrooms! :)

Cleaning the top of the water closet, bowl, and the seat are givens. Cleaning underneath the seat, underneath the bowl rim, and the base of the unit are what sets a clean lavatory apart from one that looks suspect. Here is another consideration. How many folks will make sure the flush lever is sanitized?

What about our souls? How are they cleaned and who does the cleaning? It appears that many folks are content to live with crud and muck still covering their hearts and minds. The general sense is that God would overlook a little crud here or there and give our salvation status 'a lick and a promise'. If that supposition is true, then we have a problem.

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and

witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy;

drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit

the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV)

If we truly hold the Bible as the Word of God, then sin is not something we deal with lightly. No 'licks and promises' will work for something that can kill us for eternity. Sin must be confessed, repented of, and given to God who just happens to have prepared a way for this sin to be CLEANED! Awesome! Jesus is the one who cleans the top of the water closet, the bowl, the seat, under the seat, the rim underneath, the back, bottom, and all other parts. Yes, God even cleans the flush handle. What grace? What love? What provision? This all sounds like cleaning excellence to me. I love how God handles my sin and your sin. No skimping on the means of grace through Jesus. How is your soul today?