The Touch of Heaven

"'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed." 
Mark 1:41-42 (NIV)

"Immediately"—one of Mark's favorite words in his gospel—the leprosy vanishes. A complete transformation takes place, and a long-suffering leper in the Bible receives a brand new body through Jesus’ touch. His hands, feet, hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes are perfectly restored. For the first time in a decade, instead of crying "Unclean! Unclean!" he can shout "I'm clean! I'm clean!"

That's the touch of heaven, and it’s something only God can do.

This man’s leprosy is a picture of sin. It's deeper than the surface and spreads throughout your whole being. It isolates you from relationships, and eventually, it kills you. The only cure comes from God.

We all suffer from this spiritual disease called sin. We have hearts that are selfish, jealous, bitter, and angry. Though we may not smell it, others can smell the sin in our souls. When you try to cover it up, the spiritual stench remains.

The essence of the gospel is that Jesus left heaven, came down to where you are, put on human flesh, and literally reached out and touched you with His hands of grace so He can cleanse you from your sin.

Maybe you’re feeling desperate today, just like that leper. When your marriage feels hopeless, remember Jesus specializes in complete restoration. When addiction seems unbreakable, know that His touch brings total freedom. When shame feels permanent, trust that His cleansing is immediate and complete.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for touching my life with heaven's power. Help me trust that Your transformation in me is complete, permanent, and immediately available. I welcome the touch of heaven now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.