I cleaned behind my oven yesterday. I can count on 0 hands the number of times I have cleaned back there. Did I suddenly get the urge to make sure my home was spotless and clean? Did I feel like my children’s safety was at risk because of the things growing behind my oven? Was I overcome with a desire to get on my hands and knees and scrub something?
Nope, I have someone coming over.
We’re getting ready to have some work done on the house, and I was worried if the workmen saw the mess behind my oven, they would be utterly appalled at the squalor and near slum-like conditions we were living in.
I am never quite as motivated to clean as when I have an impending guest. What would have normally taken days to do, will miraculously get cleaned in the 30 minutes prior to my visitor arriving. I will fly through the house like a bat outta hell to get the whole house picked up and answer the door out of breath due to my cleaning marathon. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I love having visitors and I love entertaining people at my home. Please keep coming over…it’s probably the only way my floors will ever get mopped.
So I pulled out the oven, got on my hands and knees, and scrubbed. As I was scrubbing away, I was struck with a thought…
Nothing inspires deep cleaning as much as the threat of someone else seeing our filth.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! My cleaning session had taken a very sudden turn into a spiritual lesson.
Is this also how I approach the sin in my life?
Am I ignoring the hidden filth simply because others can’t see it?
Am I only motivated to clean the areas in my life where others may possibly get a glimpse of my struggles?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes to all the above. It’s much easier to ignore the sin that stays hidden from others eyes. Without the threat of others seeing my shortcomings, I’m less likely to address areas of my life that keeping me from drawing closer to God. I don’t have to share my thoughts with others, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t sinful. Anger, pride, lust, envy, impatience, unfaithfulness all lurk hidden from others sight, but very present in my life.
Hidden sin taints and corrupts.
Luke 6:45 states:
“From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Angry thoughts become angry words. Judgmental thoughts become prideful actions. Hidden sin seeps out.
I need to pull the oven out, get on my hands and knees, and do some deep cleaning. Not because I’m worried about what others will think, but because I want to be clean.
Learning From Flowers 