The Miracle of Toothpaste
I’d turned into this parking spot hundreds of times. I had a full 10′ between my garage and the light pole. It was a sinch with my compact Chevy Tracker. I’d become so good at it, I could whip in there at 10-15 miles per hour, slam the breaks, and jump out with an extra 3 seconds added to my day… easy peasy.
Then it happened. I heard a deep metal scraping sound… What was that? My brakes? A wheel bearing? I jumped out and walked slowly to the other side of the car. Oh no! My car’s paint from front to back was now marred with dark grey streaks. I couldn’t believe it. What was I going to do? Faye was going to be home soon. What was I going to tell her? I felt like such an idiot.
The car wasn’t worth the price of any professional paint job. And anything I could do would just make it look worse. So I googled. The oddest result appeared. It said to put a little bit of toothpaste with water on an old toothbrush or rag and rub it in a circular motion over the scratched paint. So I did. I grabbed an old toothbrush, my toothpaste, and some water, and started scrubbing.
I couldn’t believe it. As I went, the scratches started to disappear. The paint was even glossy where there had been a scratch. What was happening? This was nothing short of a miracle! Seriously, I was aghast. As I finished up, Faye pulled in. I was the happiest guy in the world… And I couldn’t wait to tell her!
I’m sharing this true story partly to tell of the amazing benefits of toothpaste. I’ve since used this same trick on scratched screen doors, storm doors, and window frames. It’s worked on most painted metallics. I don’t know how it works. It just does.
God’s Grace
I can’t help but see the corollaries between toothpaste and God’s grace. We sin often. And many times unintentionally. Sometimes out of carelessness. Sometimes in our haste. Often in our impatience. We have a desire to do the right thing, but just can’t seem to carry it through. As Paul puts it…
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” – Romans 7:15
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” – Romans 7:18
We are embarrassed by our sins. We know better. We feel like complete idiots. And we know those closest to us can see our mistakes all too well. We need help. No, we need a miracle… So like David, we cry out to God…
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” – Psalm 51:2
And that’s exactly what God does… As we turn to Jesus, and apply His blood, His sacrifice, and His finished work on the cross… our marred souls are cleansed, and our stained consciences are washed…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11
Our Response
An interesting thing happens when we experience a miracle. We are thankful. We are grateful. And we don’t take it for granted.
To illustrate, since that day I have not scratched my car on the light pole. I’m now a little more careful when I pull in. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to put this miraculous solution to the test. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad it’s there. I just don’t want to be careless with it… I don’t want to take it for granted.
The same can be said of God’s grace toward us. Let us apply Jesus’ work on the cross to our every sin, to our every flaw, to our every mistake. Let us rejoice and be glad in what He has done for us. But let us not abuse this great privilege, nor take Him for granted. He’s done the miraculous. And He is way too good for that.