No Lye

There's a misconception that some people have about lye that causes them to be leery of using homemade soap, because it's made with lye. The misconception is that the lye in the soap can be harmful or irritating to the skin. While it is true that lye in its pure form is extremely harmful if it comes in contact with the skin. But once the soap is 'cured' it is no longer caustic (which takes weeks). Those that make homemade soap are very aware of the precautions needed to avoid harm or injury when working with lye.

Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is a chemical made from salt. Yep, ordinary salt. It is made by a system similar to electroplating to change the salt to lye. Long ago, lye was made by soaking wood ashes in water. The water that seeped out became lye water, and was used to make soap for every use.

The lye used in soap making goes through a saponification process. It is the chemical reaction in which the building blocks of fats and oils react with lye to be converted to form soap. Saponification literally means 'turning into soap'. Chemically, soap is a fatty acid salt. So when done properly, there is no lye left in the finished soap product!

Whether commercially made or homemade, ALL soap is made with lye. NO LYE - NO SOAP! And did you know? Often commercially made soaps are made with chemical detergents, hardeners, and synthetic lathering agents. Sounds a little irritating!

So the definition of conversion is 'something moving from one use to another' - like with lye, something caustic to something wonderful and useful! How can this concept be applied to our lives?

Once we realize that we are wonderfully made by a loving Creator for a specific purpose, and that we are born into this world in a caustic state (sin), we can allow Him to convert us into something new and wonderful (surrender)! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Cor 5:17

Conversion is said to be the response people make to the invitation, love, and work of God in Christ. This invitation invites each and every one of us to know God's love through Christ. To receive His forgiveness. To receive eternal life with Him....forever....eternally. Did I mention forever? That's a pretty long time.

Like the meaning of caustic means 'capable of destroying or eating away'. Our old self and sinful ways are caustic to our ability to spend eternity with God (eternity = a reeaalllly long time). "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires" Eph 4:22

So what do we do? Accept the invitation! Respond to His love and forgiveness with repentance and surrender! Allow the One who made you to move you from something caustic to something wonderful! He promises eternal life to all those who do!

And that's no lie!