Deep Cleaning

Recently, my husband and I began a cleaning project in the kitchen. We pulled out the refrigerator and stove. We proceeded to deep clean the floors, counter sides, appliances and walls. (Thankfully it was not as bad as I had anticipated.) In order to do this, we pulled everything from the top of the refrigerator and counters. We also gathered the bags from behind the refrigerator and the large cookie pans that slide vertically beside the stove. All were placed on the table and another countertop across the room. We swept and scrubbed everything.

After pushing the clean appliances back into the place and scrubbing wall and counter tops, I looked around the kitchen. At this point, the kitchen looked messier than it had been before the deep clean had begun. Despite the energy put into sweeping and scrubbing, most of the completed work was hidden when the appliances were moved back into position. I knew that progress has been made, but all that met my eye was what still needed to be done. Knowing how clean the hidden crevices were did nothing to improve the view before me.

Do you ever feel that this is what is going on in your spiritual life? God is responsible for doing the cleanup work in our hearts. We come to Him with all our failures, bad habits and wrong attitudes. If we present these before Him and request His work in our lives, He will make something beautiful out of us. We are promised, “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” (1 John 1:9 AMP) We admit and confess our sin and wrongdoing. God forgives and cleans us up. 

After he sinned, King David was well aware that he could not clean himself up. He knew that a true heart clean could only be performed by Almighty God. Therefore he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 AMP) This can also be the daily cry of our hearts. As we desire to be more like Jesus we ask that He clean anything that detracts from achieving this transformation. 

We may dedicate time to the renewal of our minds to the word of God. We may endure trials and testing while relying on the Lord. We can even know that bad habits are changing and our hearts are becoming softer. So why does it seem that when we look ahead all we see maybe how far we still have to go? As we grow more mature we may find unpleasing attitudes that we were not even aware are inside us. Like the bags behind my refrigerator, these had remained unseen but now require action. Becoming aware of them is actually proof of the deep work that is in progress. So quickly we forget the work and progress and look only at what remains to be overcome. 

Regarding this progress, in our lives we can consider Jesus’ teaching of the kingdom. “… The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground, And then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases—he knows not how. The earth produces [acting] by itself—first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” (Mark 4:26-29 AMP) The word of God that has been planted in our hearts is accomplishing its purpose even when we do not see it. After time we will see the first signs of character growth. This growth will continue until we see fully developed fruit in our lives. 

It was fairly discouraging to continue cleaning the kitchen when our progress remained unseen. Step-by-step, piece by piece, wipe by wipe; the work continued until the visible areas where as clean as the hidden. By the time the kitchen had been fully cleaned, a great sense of satisfaction had replaced the discouragement. It took time and considerable effort, but the result was quite gratifying. 

Likewise, in our spiritual lives we continue, day by day and decision by decision, choosing to follow God’s plan. We will find that God will finish every work that He begins and us. “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” (Philippians 1:6 AMP) We can be grateful and satisfied with the work that has already been done to bring about maturity as we stride toward the beauty of this completion. We will one day see that, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a AMP) 

As you evaluate your life, rejoice in what God has already done in you. As you become aware of them, bring other areas before the Lord for cleaning. And look expectantly to all that God can and will accomplish in your life.