The army has a new helmet made of "Kevlar," a fiberglass-like material. Under actual combat conditions in Grenada one soldier's life was saved when his helmet was hit by a round from an AK-47 (assault rifle) fired from no more than 25 yards away. It made only a small "dimple" in the helmet.
Another helmet was struck by a piece of shrapnel from a 20 millimeter explosive round. Again, the soldier's life was saved.
Of course, the soldiers are all clamoring for the new helmet—aren't they? Well, not exactly. There are some inconveniences; the new helmet is not always as comfortable as the old, and it can't be used as a washing utensil!
Doesn't that sound like some people? They are clinging to their old "wash basins" instead of accepting the salvation God has already provided for them.
Salvation does not come by our own efforts to make ourselves clean. We can wash, we can resolve, we can reform, we can "clean up our act" in today's phrase, but still God says: "For though thou wash thee... and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord God." Jer. 2:2222For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. (Jeremiah 2:22).
We cannot make ourselves clean.
Then what can we do? We can accept the fact that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). We can accept His sacrifice on the cross for us; we can take "the helmet of salvation," and know ourselves saved for time and eternity.