Recently, I was reading from a devotional, and within the reading was the mention of home renovations. That struck a cord in me, a deeper thought reaching beyond the home built of brick and mortar. I thought of my life and how, like our home that we renovated, my heart and life also experienced a renovation when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Salvation was an early renovation, the first step of a work in progress. You see, we renovated our house. We cleaned, tore some parts out, rebuilt some parts, added fresh electrical wires and outlets, tore up old carpet that had dry rotted, and hired out a company to lay new carpet. We sanded down old and tired woodwork, painted walls in bright and soothing colors, and installed new and updated appliances and counter tops. Old light fixtures were removed, and new light fixtures were installed. Tired windows were replaced with windows that could be opened to welcome the fresh air and tipped out so that they could be washed easily. Those clean windows allow the sunlight to stream into our home, casting beautiful natural light throughout.
We worked around the house on the outside as well. Some plants that had overgrown were either removed or simply trimmed into shape, flowerbeds were weeded, mulch and gravel spread in place. An herb garden was planted, providing savory flavors to our meals.
The renovations demanded of us a lot of time, dedication, and work. When it was finished, we constantly walked into our fresh home and smiled with satisfaction and contentment in the work we had accomplished. We often raised our hands in high five salutes. One would think that now we could simply sit back and enjoy the home. We were finished. The renovations we wanted to address were completed. However, that is not the case.
The home is restored. It certainly has a welcoming feel about it, but because we did the work, I can see the imperfections. The walls call for periodic washing down to remove dust that prevents the light from bouncing back into the space. The windows need cleaning so that we can see through them clearly. There are the occasional times where the paint needs to be touched up from people banging items into them or repeatedly brushing past the edges of a corner. Many hands with food particles or dirt leave marks that need cleaned. And even the things that were bought new, need repairing or replacing, because they are not meant to last forever. Certainly, there is a constant demand for continual upkeep on the home we so lovingly renovated.
And, I think of my heart and spirit. I think of how I am so very much like our renovated home. I invited Jesus into my heart. He bought me; after all, He paid the debt of my sins. Renovations of my life began. It is an ever-continuing process. At the beginning, much was accomplished very quickly. My focus and attention changed from that of the temporal to the eternal. With God, I worked to clean up my thoughts, my desires, my intentions, and my relationships.
Like our freshly renovated home though, this old house I call my mind, body and soul needs on-going attention and care. Oh, how I so often forget this! I'm prone to becoming dusty and musty. My paint gets scuffed and marred from the toil of everyday life. I forget to wash my windows regularly, and so I don't see things clearly. The wiring of my mind gets crossed and sometimes the outlets don't function properly. My thoughts, actions, or inaction haunt my mind, and I'm tricked into believing I'm no longer suited for habitation.
And so, I come to fully understand that just like our home, I must be under constant maintenance if I am to hold my value; if I'm to be of use to my family and community. I'm still bought and paid for; I still belong to Jesus. However, my usefulness diminishes with my dilapidation. I must return to The Source of renewal and rejuvenation.
I wash down the walls of my mind with the Word of God. The dust and cobwebs are swept away through worship and the Holy Spirit. Hope returns on the wings of prayer. I am again willing to go where Jesus leads.
Thus, the doors of my heart open, and I welcome the work and fellowship that comes my way.
