Can You Make
“Unclean” Pigs “Clean”
?

My wife and I were discussing the true nature of man and how clearly we can see some of the biblical examples in our animals. Afterwards she sat down and typed out the following blog. I think it is well worth reading.

What a silly question. And I would have never thought about this until…………….we got 2 piglets awhile ago. And I just got to thinking about this passage: Matthew 15:1-20. If you are not familiar with this passage, please read it or these thoughts may not make sense to you.
Our piglets are so cute. (You can see them on the trisonchickery blog)We named them salami and pepperoni. Now we did not get them for pets, though they are cute. So I got to thinking……………..if we were in charge of their diet (what goes in the mouth), then is it possible to actually have “clean” pigs!? If we only gave them fruits and vegetables and fish to eat, then they would be the healthiest pigs around! And we gave t hem lots of shade so they do not have to waller in mud. So far they have stayed pretty clean ----- on the outside that is.
Is it possible to change an “unclean” animal to “clean” by what man does? Well, as I have observed, their diet & hygiene did not change their hearts. They still are selfish little pigs. They bite each others ears. Push one another out away from the food trough. They squeal and chase each other in frustration. They steal anything they can get from each other. One will simply jump in and “hog” up the entire water trough so the other can not get a drink. They are constantly bickering and only looking out for themselves.
I thought what an interesting lesson. It truly is not what goes into the mouth that makes them unclean, but the heart. As for the heart of the pig was made that way by God. So no matter how “man” dresses it up, cleans the outside, feeds it the most organic diet, it will NEVER be a “clean” animal.
So it is with us too. We can do “churchy” activities. We can attend Bible studies, sing in the choir. We can say many a prayers. But that does not make one “clean”
"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" Matthew 15:8-9
No matter how we disguise it or dress it up---it is not what goes into the mouth that makes us “unclean”.

Matthew 15:10-11 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'"

The question is…….what comes out of your mouth? When you are not at church or with your “churchy” friends? When you are offended. When someone has done you wrong? Do you tear them apart to make you feel better? Do you have evil thoughts against those who you don’t care for? Do you have a craving to gratify the flesh in what you read and watch on TV or movies. Lowering your standards saying well everyone else at church watches it…..it must be OK. Though it has many sexual innuendoes and immodesty through out it, you say it isn’t so bad so that it can feed your flesh?

"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:17-19
This my friend is what makes you “unclean”. It is your actions. For actions come from thoughts and thoughts come from the heart:

As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

So what is in your heart? Is it repentance that leads to salvation? Are you seeking the wisdom of God found in the fear of a Holy God. Is it the Truth of God’s Word on a daily, moment by moment basis. Feasting on His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you these concepts. Humbling yourself and to remember you are but dust. Do you desire to find out what pleases God and obey it?

What is in your heart?Only God can make the “unclean” “clean”