Spring Cleaning

It's amazing to me just how simple sin can be. I mean, sure Satan may give me a little push every now and then but in the end it's me taking the plunge from high above. We love the risk, enjoy the reward, and hope that there aren't repercussions. Let's face it, if we're going to give credit where credit is due, the credit belongs to you; and me, too!

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but sin is seen by all. In 1964 Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart tried to define 'obscene'. He couldn't but said, “I know what it is when I see it.” Sin isn't so. We all know what it is. Obscene is what offends us—it is ambiguous. Sin is what offends Him—it is explicit. Sin is direct defiance of a holy and righteous God.

Let's think about this: Paul writes that we are to evaluate ourselves realistically and individually.
4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load. -Galatians 6

Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm responsible for giving myself a grade I get an 'A'...and put a plus sign out beside it while you're at it. It's so much easier to see sin in in others' lives. You know why? Pride. We don't want to admit that we've swept our dirty little secret sins under the rug. Spring cleaning requires moving things around and we're perfectly comfortable letting sleeping dogs lie; on the rug of course. We don't want to give the appearance that we're not perfect or at the very least God forbid be seen as less in another human's eye. Never mind that the God of all creation has X-ray vision.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? -Matthew 7

Laziness is another reason we don't want to face ourselves in the mirror every morning. If we see what we really are then we'll be convicted to change. That requires real effort on our part. We might actually have to get off our Bibles and start living them out in our lives. No one wants to look at themselves naked. Well, some I guess, but those who do have a pride issue. The ironic thing is, the rest of us do, too! We're afraid of what we will see; someone who is out of shape. It reveals our failure to care about our health and lack of discipline in doing what is right. Our hearts are no different. We need to work out.

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

-Philippians 2

For it is God who works in you to will and to act... I love that! Thank goodness it's not up to me. Sure I can't pack my Bible away or fail to pray anymore than I can go through the fast food drive through everyday expecting to be the picture of health. But there are things out of our control. We have to depend on him. So maybe it's time to bare your heart before God, sin and all, and allow Him to do a little spring cleaning in your life.