For those of us who have the privilege of drying your clothes outside on a clothesline (in the spring, summer and early fall), we get to enjoy that “fresh smell” of nature’s “purifier,” ozone.” If you have gone outside after the rain, or especially after a thunderstorm, you have undoubtedly also smelled ozone in the air. If you have been close to a lightning strike, the smell is very pungent. Ozone is “tri-oxygen” or oxygen (O2) with an extra atom (O3), making it unstable. It reacts with other chemicals changing their chemical structure. For example, when ammonia (NH3) comes in contact with ozone (O3), the chemical reaction produces water (H2O) and nitrogen (N), and the smell of ammonia is gone, not just covered up. The ammonia no longer exists. Ozone, along with ions (which are atoms or molecules with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons and thus also unstable) are God’s design for purifying the atmosphere.
Man has utilized God’s purifiers and designed air purifiers and even a system for clothes washing using ozone and ions. We have an air purifier which involves both ozone and ion production. If we need to remove cooking smells from the room, we can just turn up the purifier and soon the smells are gone—not just covered up. We also have an attachment for our washing machine which infuses the cold water with molecules including ions, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2…a bleaching and antiseptic agent). The transformed water then enters the washing machine to deep clean and disinfect the laundry. The process is an effective cleaning method that is safe,100% natural and leaves no detergent residue behind. It sterilizes, disinfects, decontaminates, purifies and deep cleans—all without the use of detergent or hot water. (Also saves on laundry expenses!).
God not only created the heavens and the earth and all they contain (Neh. 9:6), but He also maintains what He created, not allowing it to self destruct or be destroyed by mankind. Col. 2:16,17 says: “For by Him (Jesus Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him; and He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.” God created this earth with a system of air and water purification through the hydrologic cycle, the movement of the oceans and tides (governed by the moon’s gravitational pull), and sun rays, and storms, and, of course the use of ozone and ions. Even though we see death and suffering because of the results of sin and evil, we also see God’s amazing design in the midst of it all. The human body, with its ability to fight off infection and disease and heal from injury is just another example of God sustaining what He created. Just study, for example, how blood clotting works and you have to know that we were designed by the all-wise, all-powerful, Creator of the universe.
But, God not only provided a means of purification and cleansing of His physical creation, He also provided a means of spiritual cleansing from the devastation of sin. From before the world was even created, God had a plan of redemption for sin by sending His Son to become the sin-bearer (Eph. 1:4), Who would not just cover up sin, but remove it. He did it through shedding His blood, laying down His life as a sacrifice and then being raised again to be our Intercessor in Heaven. The writer of Hebrews tells us that “…without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). Throughout the Old Testament, prior to Christ coming as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29), priests made thousands of sacrifices, applying blood to the altar, but only to cover sin until the Messiah came to remove it. “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” But, “By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Chris once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God…For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10:1-4,10-14).
When we come to Christ to receive forgiveness, He doesn’t just “cover up” our sins. He removes them. He did it at the cross, once and for all. There is nothing we can do—nor need do—nor should do—to add to what He did. Remember His words form the cross: “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). Jesus paid it all. When we put our trust in His work at the Cross, the penalty for sin is “Paid In Full.” Credited to our spiritual account is His (Christ’s) righteousness (II Cor. 5:21).
“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” (There is a Fountain by William Cowper)
Praise God for His wonderful design for sustaining what He created, and praise Him for His wonderful plan to “take away” our sin and give us eternal life in the Person of God the Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord! And, His blood continues to cleanse us. As Christians, we still have the old nature, and still sin, but “…We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I Jn. 2:1), and “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteousness to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9). “…If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (v. 7).
Forever His,
Pastor Dave
P.S. I was praying this morning about what topic I should write about, when my wife opened a window and there was a beautiful fresh aroma from outside (ozone), prompting the above thoughts!
Wisdom of The Week 