The Eschatology of Changing Diapers
all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6)
“You’re a Mess”
I have a dear friend who had a beloved phrase whenever things went haywire “we’re a mess.” He almost always said this with something of a smile on his face. I’ve adopted this phrase into my verbiage and from time to time it comes out. Recently, the phrase came out as I was changing one of my little ones diapers. “You’re a mess” I said while moving the old diaper out of the way. My little child was giggling the whole time. I thought the height of laughter had already occurred, until I somehow observed a bit of “mess” on my hands. I simply looked at my child, looked at my hands, and declared “I’m a mess.” This was, according to my child’s reaction, utterly hilarious.
The Longer the Mess Lingers
Messy diapers require actions motivated by hope for a new future, a future apart from the smells, and discomfort of filth. To leave a child in their messy diaper would be the opposite of merciful and compassionate. As a general rule, the longer the mess lingers, the more messy the cleanup will be.
Enter Into the Mess
It takes a certain eschatological hope to enter into the mess, and (with precision, perseverance, and tenacity) provide a new future. That is the “end times” perspective of changing diapers. That there is a mess, and it must be cleaned up. The present evil is not something that should remain. Evil is not welcomed in eternity. Evil does not belong in the eternity that Christ has secured. Evil is being ushered out. Evil is being taken care of. Evil has an expiration date.
The Incarnational Work of Christ
Left to ourselves, we would remain an absolute mess. Apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ, the more we attempt to clean up our own mess, the more the mess becomes messy. It is only through the incarnational work of Christ, entering into our mess, that there is eschatological hope for cleanliness. The mess is not eternal. The mess is not forever. The mess is on the way out.
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
Christ’s Victory Over the Mess
Christ’s victory over the mess of evil is so total, so complete, that the mess isn’t comparable or memorable in itself. The mess is only worth mentioning, because of the Christ who has cleansed His people. On a daily basis we Christians enter into a great cosmic conflict as those who have been a “mess”, knowing the one who loved us to the point of rescuing us from our messiest state.