Cleanliness means that there is no dirt, no dust, no stains and no bad smell. The purposes of cleanliness are health, beauty, absence of offensive odor and to avoid the spreading of dirt and contaminants to oneself and others. Washing is one way of achieving cleanliness, usually with water and often some kind of soap or detergent. In simple terms, it means being in clean state. God has enabled Rwandan Community to know and master this practice of living clean and in health environment. You can take a ride around the City of Kigali roads right way from airport to down town or sojourn in one or different places of the city. All these manifest the presence of God’s spirit in the land and my fellow believers can attest for this glory. My prayer is that it (Rwanda) should continue “catching fire of cleanliness“physically, mentally and spiritually. Wherever a Rwandan national reaches; they should be easily differentiated from other nationals because of being smart or call it clean. It is not because we put on expensive clothes or washing with pure soap or water than others on the continent, but that is simply God’s Spirit. In Psalms 65:4, the Bible says: “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” As the old saying goes, “cleanliness is next to godliness,” Indeed it is our moral duty to keep ourselves and our bodies, homes or environment clean. During the 18th and 19th centuries, missionaries of that period preached what might be termed “a doctrine of cleanliness.” This doctrine equated filth with sin, whereas cleanliness was said to bring one closer to God. Perhaps this is what made the axiom, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” popular. Although there is not a single quote in the Bible that states that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” God wants his people to be clean. He is more concerned about our inward man being clean then the outward. And when your inward man is clean then it produces outward cleanliness. This is proof that He would like for us to be clean internally as well as externally, which means that cleanliness is next to Godliness. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. In Hebrews 10:22, the Holly book teaches as that: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. GOD LOVES YOU. Rev. Gatera is the Senior Pastor, Jesus Messiah Assembly Ministries, Kigali, Rwanda.
