This weekend I did some carpet cleaning. As I read the instructions on the rental cleaner, a note caught my eye: “When the dirty water is nearly clear, your carpet is clean”. This was new to me. In the past, I’d simply cleaned until the visible dirt was gone (or nearly gone).

After a while, the carpet looked clean, but the “dirty water” was very dirty. I couldn’t help but reflect on the difference between the “superficial” dirt and the dirt deep inside the fibers.

As I continued the cleaning, my mind compared the dirt in the carpet to the sin in the lives of Christians.

What is more important in the home; that the carpet looks clean or that the carpet is clean? What is more important in the lives of Christians; that we act sin free or that we live sin free?

For many years, I considered myself to be a Christian. I thought I was to act nicer, be more polite, help people. All of those things are fine and good, but an atheist can do those things as easily as a Christian.

It was only after I felt the indwelling of the Holy Spirit did I feel the difference that a Christian life brings to motive and ability. I have no hope of living sin free without surrender, obedience and the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Far too often, nominal Christians think they can will themselves into a relationship with Christ through “cleaning up” their language, donating money and being “nicer” to others. Outwardly, we want to appear different. But how many of us allow the Holy Spirit to dig deep down into the fibers of our being? How many of us will put in the hours of work until “dirty water” runs clear?

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

In other translations, the verse ends “go and sin no more”. We are quick to accept forgiveness, but how often do we embrace the call to live a sinless life?

We are of this world. We, it is said, cannot live a sinless life. Does that mean we should not try? Should we surrender to a sinful life, or should we surrender each sin to God and ask the Holy Spirit to cause us to repent, to change our ways?

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Alas, the dirty water from my carpet never ran clear. But it was much better than when I started. So next time it will get a little better still. Not dissimilar from our walk in faith. A little better each and every day. Will three dogs dirty up that freshly cleaned carpet? Of course they will. Just as culture and the world will pull us toward a sinful life.

Dig deep. Keep working. Surrender all to God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. We cannot do this alone, but God can do it through us.