Well we have purchased a house finally! We have started the renovations on it last week. Its funny everyone talks about how it would be awesome to be on one of those shows where you just starting whacking stuff and tarring it down. You can take out a little frustration on some projects, but the real truth is that you always find more than you are looking to do. For example, if you have a whole in your wall what would be the easiest solution? Of course put a picture over it. If you decided you didn’t like your current wallpaper what should you do? Of course put another layer over it to disguise the old one. In renovation you begin to see not only the surface issue but as you dig the root of the problem. For instance, the floor is not level not because they put down the linoleum wrong, its un-level because the plywood on the foundation of the floor was un-level.
As Christians we are like a renovation project. We don’t really want to know what the root problem is we mainly just want to look good on the outside. As I am standing there stripping layers of wallpaper I thought what if we would stood before God and allowed him to remove all the layers. You know when I removed the wallpaper the wall was horrendous because big chucks of sheet rock had been pulled away. A professional sheet rocker came in and filled all the holes and sanded them. With a new coat of paint you would never know what shape the walls had been in previously. We are so scared to be vulnerable to anyone including God. If we would allow God to strip us down we would probably have huge holes where we are carrying pain, sorrow, un-forgiveness, bitterness, regret, but praise God he can fill them with His healing hand. Just as that room can be restored to its beauty, He can restore us to the way He created us to be. I honestly think sometimes we are just too scared of what we might find that we had rather not look inside ourselves at all. By doing this we delight the enemy.
Here is the deal it’s not a pretty process. It can get down right nasty at times, but the results are worth it. People would come in our house right now and think we have lost our minds, but because we are familiar with the process this part is only a phase. When we get finished no one will recognize the house. Isn’t that what we are suppose to be as Christians – a new creature in Christ- the old has passed away?
Psalm 51:1-2, 6-12, ESV Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Isaiah 1:18, ESV Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
As Christians we are like a renovation project. We don’t really want to know what the root problem is we mainly just want to look good on the outside. As I am standing there stripping layers of wallpaper I thought what if we would stood before God and allowed him to remove all the layers. You know when I removed the wallpaper the wall was horrendous because big chucks of sheet rock had been pulled away. A professional sheet rocker came in and filled all the holes and sanded them. With a new coat of paint you would never know what shape the walls had been in previously. We are so scared to be vulnerable to anyone including God. If we would allow God to strip us down we would probably have huge holes where we are carrying pain, sorrow, un-forgiveness, bitterness, regret, but praise God he can fill them with His healing hand. Just as that room can be restored to its beauty, He can restore us to the way He created us to be. I honestly think sometimes we are just too scared of what we might find that we had rather not look inside ourselves at all. By doing this we delight the enemy.
Here is the deal it’s not a pretty process. It can get down right nasty at times, but the results are worth it. People would come in our house right now and think we have lost our minds, but because we are familiar with the process this part is only a phase. When we get finished no one will recognize the house. Isn’t that what we are suppose to be as Christians – a new creature in Christ- the old has passed away?
Psalm 51:1-2, 6-12, ESV Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Isaiah 1:18, ESV Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
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