The Stain on the Couch

Several years ago, we were at my sister-in-law’s home for a family gathering. Someone accidentally spilled grape juice on her denim couch.

Everyone sprung into action – trying to clean up the juice before it stained the couch.

My mother-in-law got a soapy dishtowel and started scrubbing the stain. At first, it seemed to be working – the dark purple color of the stain began to fade.

Then, we noticed that something else was fading… the denim fabric on the couch! All the scrubbing took the blue color of the denim out. Now, the couch had a big white circle with a pink stain in the middle of it.

What a disaster!

Soon, a slip-cover was purchased for that couch. The (double) stain was still there, but now it was hidden under the cover.

Eventually, they purchased a new couch. The old (stained) one was gone and a new (stain-free) couch replaced it.

This story reminds me of God’s grace in our lives.

We are all sin-stained.

Our best attempts at getting rid of the stains only seem to make things worse. We usually resort to “slip-covers” – hiding, faking, covering and pretending the stains aren’t there.

God has something better for us: a brand-new, stain-free life – paid for in full by Him. Out with the old, in with the new!

The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person – the old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5.17

God’s grace provides us with what is impossible on our own: His grace makes us brand-new and stain-free.