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 formed 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.
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