piles.

There’s a house near mine that has definitely intrigued all who passed it. This is not because of the outstanding architecture or even that it’s painted a color that sets it apart from the rest. What makes this house stand out is what’s in front of it, all around, and probably inside it (Although I admit that I’ve never dared to enter…): junk. Piles and piles of old and odd things are scattered throughout the yard. What a mess.

While passing it the other day a question rose up in me. A question that was birth by something inside that was not part of my innate being. I struggled for a second, wondering if I should let this one rise to the top and penetrate my soul and mind. Forces beyond my control didn’t let me ponder very long before it was out.

“Does my soul look like that house?”

If your were to take a magic school bus ride deep into my inner being, beyond what I would want you too see and into deep places, what would you find? Piles of unforgiven transgressions? Things I refuse to forgive myself for? Lies I am still believing? Desires unquenched? Thoughts and feelings unspoken? Bitterness? Hurts? Dreams?

But what happens if…

What happens if I let the Holy Spirit change things? With complete assurance in my salvation I can confidently say that He lives in my soul, despite the mess. I don’t know how much I’ve really let Him change, though. But what if I did? What if I let Him touch those piles? What if I let Him clean and move and even remove that which for some reason I have hoarded so preciously? What if instead of merely asking Him to reside in my soul, I let Jesus remodel it?

So, He scrubs the lies until they beam only with truth. He throws away the grudges that stack the wall. No shame comes, like I feared, when he comes to my desires and dreams. Instead He treasures them like the perfect Father. Once purified and shaped a bit they begin to fit better into my ever-changing soul. He searches through the dark places and bring light to them. And never once does He shame me for what I’ve kept so deep. He loves me still and keeps working so that I have more room to love Him.

So, my dear neighbor whom I have not had the chance to meet, let’s do this. Let’s begin the cleaning process. I know you think everything you have is necessary. It feels better to have it all, to have control, to have protection. But trust me-this will be worth it. It’ll hurt and it’ll be hard. But it’s what is best.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

2 Cor 4:16, 17