(Previously posted on my facebook page; with some slight changes)
I had an interesting revelation while flushing my toilet (yes, while flushing my toilet). I usually don’t have to clean my toilet bowl very often; maybe once every month or month and half. It had been probably longer than that since the last time I cleaned it, with being gone and busy with work, babysitting, and classes. As I flushed my toilet, I noticed the toilet bowl was quite filthy; and I mean FILTHY! It was a disturbing realization for two reasons; (1) because I live alone, I knew the filth was all mine and (2) this meant I had to actually buckle down and clean it!
To supplement my income (working barely 10 hours a week at a daycare doesn’t exactly pay the bills) I babysit/nanny and clean houses here and there. I never used to enjoy cleaning when I was living with my parents mostly because I never really needed to clean much outside my room and the downstairs bathroom that I used. My mom would occasionally guilt me into doing dishes and I would volunteer to vacuum or dust, but for the most part I was lucky enough not to have too many household chores before I moved out. Now that I’m on my own and it’s solely my responsibility to keep my apartment clean AND because I also happen to be quite the OCD, neat freak, my apartment is generally spotless with everything in its place. My personality is such that I like control, but if I don’t have to be responsible for things being done I won’t worry about it. But, if the situation is such that what “needs” to be done is not being done, I’ll step up and take the reins. Such is the case with cleaning now that I’m living alone.
Now on to my revelation: cleaning houses and living on my own has taught me that there are essentially three types of individuals when it comes to keeping a clean house; (1) first there are those who get so busy with life that they let the clutter and dirt and dust build up; (2) those people who “maintain” a neat and clean house, with occasional periods of neglect, followed by periods of “overhaul cleaning”, so to speak; and finally (3) the people who obsessed with always having their house spic and span and perfectly spotless to the point where it interferes with their lives.
So what do cleaning styles and my dirty toilet bowl have to do with anything? Well, being the seminary student I am, both these things immediately made me think of our spiritual lives. Our spiritual lives, like our homes, need to be maintained. So how do we individually “clean house”? Are we like those who let life’s troubles, distractions and responsibilities bog us down and neglect to take care of the sin that builds up in our life? Or are we responsible in maintaining, although not always perfectly, the lives that Christ has redeemed? Or are we so obsessed with having the appearance of holiness that we become overwhelmed with trying to keep it all together, while running ourselves ragged and missing out on the happiness and joy God has in store for us?
It’s not a perfect analogy, but the challenge remains: which category do you fit into? Here’s my own personal insight on the matter as a whole; Scripture tells us that we (believers who have accepted Christ as our Savior AND Lord) are the temple of the Holy Spirit—therefore we are obligated to “keep house” (1 Cor. 6:19). God is Light and in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5), therefore, if Christ is dwelling in us, we need to be diligent to remain pure and holy, and not allow the sin which we have been freed from to have dominion in our lives any longer. Remember, however, that it is not in our power that we can accomplish this, but rather it is the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that enables us to live victorious lives freed from the power and control of sin (Romans 6:6).
To those in the first category, who have let life overwhelm them so much that they have neglected their “house” remember this: You have been freed and redeemed! Romans 6:6 states: “Our old sinful selves were CRUCIFIED (killed, put to death, humiliated, exterminated) with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are NO LONGER slaves to sin.” You no longer have to succumb to the sinful nature. You are redeemed, forgiven, and free to live in the love and power of Christ the Savior and Redeemer. In addition to this, remember that the worries, troubles, and temptations of this world are NOTHING compared with that glorious, victorious life Christ has for you (Romans 8: 18). Live in His freedom, forgiveness, and grace!
To those in the second category, remember to keep your eyes focused on the Savior, the “author and perfecter of your faith” so as not to fall into arrogance or pride and become susceptible to the temptations of the flesh again. If you take your eyes off of the One who has redeemed you, you may either fall back into the sin that once ensnared you, or become concerned with keeping the law and being “religious” instead of relying on God’s grace to sustain you and transform you.
To those in third category, your deeds, your appearance of righteousness, will never earn you salvation or forgiveness. Those whom Christ has set free, are truly free (John 8:36). And all the good works you try to do to make yourself righteous are junk (Isaiah 64: 6) compared to Christ’s righteousness which is counted to you when you become His child. So why are you trying to do what Christ has already done? If you are His child, His righteousness is yours. Like one of my favorite old songs says:
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
If you believe Jesus paid it all and His grace is enough, your life will overflow with gratitude and love. As Christ told the Pharisees, the fulfillment of the law is love: loving God with everything you have and loving your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10: 27). You will live as one who has truly been redeemed and forgiven. Stop running yourself ragged trying to be perfect. Christ’s sacrifice has made you spotless before the throne of God and He is the one making you into His likeness.
Whoever thought a dirty toilet could harbor such deep, theological implications? Just more proof that God speaks in mysterious ways!
I had an interesting revelation while flushing my toilet (yes, while flushing my toilet). I usually don’t have to clean my toilet bowl very often; maybe once every month or month and half. It had been probably longer than that since the last time I cleaned it, with being gone and busy with work, babysitting, and classes. As I flushed my toilet, I noticed the toilet bowl was quite filthy; and I mean FILTHY! It was a disturbing realization for two reasons; (1) because I live alone, I knew the filth was all mine and (2) this meant I had to actually buckle down and clean it!
To supplement my income (working barely 10 hours a week at a daycare doesn’t exactly pay the bills) I babysit/nanny and clean houses here and there. I never used to enjoy cleaning when I was living with my parents mostly because I never really needed to clean much outside my room and the downstairs bathroom that I used. My mom would occasionally guilt me into doing dishes and I would volunteer to vacuum or dust, but for the most part I was lucky enough not to have too many household chores before I moved out. Now that I’m on my own and it’s solely my responsibility to keep my apartment clean AND because I also happen to be quite the OCD, neat freak, my apartment is generally spotless with everything in its place. My personality is such that I like control, but if I don’t have to be responsible for things being done I won’t worry about it. But, if the situation is such that what “needs” to be done is not being done, I’ll step up and take the reins. Such is the case with cleaning now that I’m living alone.
Now on to my revelation: cleaning houses and living on my own has taught me that there are essentially three types of individuals when it comes to keeping a clean house; (1) first there are those who get so busy with life that they let the clutter and dirt and dust build up; (2) those people who “maintain” a neat and clean house, with occasional periods of neglect, followed by periods of “overhaul cleaning”, so to speak; and finally (3) the people who obsessed with always having their house spic and span and perfectly spotless to the point where it interferes with their lives.
So what do cleaning styles and my dirty toilet bowl have to do with anything? Well, being the seminary student I am, both these things immediately made me think of our spiritual lives. Our spiritual lives, like our homes, need to be maintained. So how do we individually “clean house”? Are we like those who let life’s troubles, distractions and responsibilities bog us down and neglect to take care of the sin that builds up in our life? Or are we responsible in maintaining, although not always perfectly, the lives that Christ has redeemed? Or are we so obsessed with having the appearance of holiness that we become overwhelmed with trying to keep it all together, while running ourselves ragged and missing out on the happiness and joy God has in store for us?
It’s not a perfect analogy, but the challenge remains: which category do you fit into? Here’s my own personal insight on the matter as a whole; Scripture tells us that we (believers who have accepted Christ as our Savior AND Lord) are the temple of the Holy Spirit—therefore we are obligated to “keep house” (1 Cor. 6:19). God is Light and in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5), therefore, if Christ is dwelling in us, we need to be diligent to remain pure and holy, and not allow the sin which we have been freed from to have dominion in our lives any longer. Remember, however, that it is not in our power that we can accomplish this, but rather it is the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that enables us to live victorious lives freed from the power and control of sin (Romans 6:6).
To those in the first category, who have let life overwhelm them so much that they have neglected their “house” remember this: You have been freed and redeemed! Romans 6:6 states: “Our old sinful selves were CRUCIFIED (killed, put to death, humiliated, exterminated) with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are NO LONGER slaves to sin.” You no longer have to succumb to the sinful nature. You are redeemed, forgiven, and free to live in the love and power of Christ the Savior and Redeemer. In addition to this, remember that the worries, troubles, and temptations of this world are NOTHING compared with that glorious, victorious life Christ has for you (Romans 8: 18). Live in His freedom, forgiveness, and grace!
To those in the second category, remember to keep your eyes focused on the Savior, the “author and perfecter of your faith” so as not to fall into arrogance or pride and become susceptible to the temptations of the flesh again. If you take your eyes off of the One who has redeemed you, you may either fall back into the sin that once ensnared you, or become concerned with keeping the law and being “religious” instead of relying on God’s grace to sustain you and transform you.
To those in third category, your deeds, your appearance of righteousness, will never earn you salvation or forgiveness. Those whom Christ has set free, are truly free (John 8:36). And all the good works you try to do to make yourself righteous are junk (Isaiah 64: 6) compared to Christ’s righteousness which is counted to you when you become His child. So why are you trying to do what Christ has already done? If you are His child, His righteousness is yours. Like one of my favorite old songs says:
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
If you believe Jesus paid it all and His grace is enough, your life will overflow with gratitude and love. As Christ told the Pharisees, the fulfillment of the law is love: loving God with everything you have and loving your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10: 27). You will live as one who has truly been redeemed and forgiven. Stop running yourself ragged trying to be perfect. Christ’s sacrifice has made you spotless before the throne of God and He is the one making you into His likeness.
Whoever thought a dirty toilet could harbor such deep, theological implications? Just more proof that God speaks in mysterious ways!
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