Feasting on the Word
Title: Spotless in Two Worlds
by Candee Gentry
Spotless in Two Worlds
As I live from day to day, I am forced to recognize my human faults. That
is to say, faults that the majority of my family, friends and acquaintances
see in me. I could make a list probably 2 pages long. However, the fault
that I am accused of most is that of “perfectionism” or sometimes, even
“obsessive-compulsive”. Allow me to explain.
When I was growing up, I had chores to do, as did the rest of man-kind
in this era. I was being taught responsibility, in many ways. Not only responsibility
for chores, but for my actions as well. I had to learn to do a lot of things
at age 8 because my mother was pregnant and needed much bed rest. I learned
how to cook, do the laundry, clean the dishes, sweep, mop, as well as many
other chores. Now, having a family of my own, I am very grateful for the
knowledge that my mother bestowed upon me concerning a clean home.
In doing the chores that were required of me, I learned about spots. When
I did the dishes, they had to be spot-free; when I swept the floor, it couldn’t
have one spot of dirt on it, which in turn aided in reducing spots when
it was time to mop. When I ironed, there could be no wrinkled spots on the
clothes. You get the idea.
Now, 25 years later, I don’t like to see spots in my house. However, I have
a husband, children and a life. I am now blessed with an automatic dishwasher,
so I don’t actively get my hands wet, but does that guarantee spot-free
dishes? No. I still have to look them over for spots. I tend to be obsessive-compulsive
when it comes to my kitchen floor. I walk around my home barefoot and when
I walk across the kitchen floor, I do not want to FEEL spots on it whether
they are sticky spots or just loose dirt spots. I have a floor that collects
dirt easily so I sweep it 3-4 times a day. Time management is a large benefit
of parenthood and, I would venture to say, even a must of parenthood.
I have found that I don’t like to do laundry every day, in amongst all the
other chores that encompass my day. Since I homeschool my children, I devote
a large portion of my time to working with them or gathering their work.
So, needless to say, I see spots in my house. I don’t mop my kitchen every
day so it has spots. We try to get to it once a week, but with children,
it’s kind of pointless to mop more than that because Murphy’s law goes into
affect. That being, as soon as I mop, a fresh, sticky spill is created,
therefore leaving another, yes, you guessed it, spot. I see spots on my
television and computer screens from little hands that feel the need to
get up close and personal with their games. There are spots on the bathroom
counter from little mouths that can’t , or won’t, aim their toothpaste.
There is one thing I see more of than anything though. It’s a sneaky little
“spot” that doesn’t catch my attention until a certain light hits it or
if I am face to face with it. This “spot” ‘s name is DUST! Dust has a cousin
named Cobweb that really annoys me. I find that these details of dusting,
and vacuuming cobwebs take so much of my time, that I simply refuse to make
time for cleaning them, until I am forced to see how much they have taken
over. Now I know that I cannot live in a spot-free home and quite honestly,
I’m thankful. That would require 100% of my efforts every day and I would
have to forget that I have children because they would have to be attached
to the ceiling so as not to make more spots. What a sad life that would
be.
Now there is another area of my life that requires “spot-checking”. That
is my spiritual life. I find that the spots on it are a little more stubborn
and require a little more elbow grease. When the Lord shows me these spots
in His light, I am face to face with the dust and cobwebs that keep me from
realizing the goals that He has for me. This is not a very pleasant mirror
to look in at first, but then, I want what the Lord wants for my life so
I have to get busy cleaning these spots. How do I know I have these spots?
God’s word tell me that “…all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God.” (Romans 3:23). Now I have to clean these spots. How? I must confess
that I have sinned (Romans 10:9) and then believe that Jesus died for me
to forgive my sins make me spot free (1Peter 2:24 AND Colossians 1:14).
If I don’t get these spots cleaned up, what will happen? Look at Revelation
21:27. I won’t enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
We Christians, which
means “Christ-LIKE”, as a whole, are the church. In Ephesians 5:27, we find
that we are supposed to be presented without spot, wrinkle or blemish, but
rather HOLY. This is also a command for each individual Christian, in Ephesians
1:4. We were chosen before the foundations of the Earth were made and we
need to be holy for the God that CHOSE us. Think about that concept for
a minute: GOD CHOSE YOU for Himself, for a friend!! Yes, I think that deserves
holy living.
What about the dust that piles up and the cobwebs that get
built when we aren’t looking? Those are still spots that need to be cleaned
right? We cannot enter into heaven with spots on us. We have to enter as
holy and without blame. We, therefore, need to examine our “house” closely
and daily for spots. When God shows us those spots, we need to clean (confess)
(1John 1:9) them immediately. Then we need to sweep and mop the entire surface
of the spot (ask for forgiveness). Finally, we need to check on that spot
daily to make sure that it doesn’t try to return (repent; turn away from;
to do NO MORE; study the bible and pray).
It is my prayer that we all,
as Christians, look for the spots in our own lives and get them cleaned
up before we try to show other their spots. I also pray that every Christian
pray and ask the Lord to reveal to them any hidden spots. Don’t run away
from the spots. Take aggressive action to get the spots clean.
God Bless
**NOTE**
This is a previously published article under my copyright. Some changes
have been made to the original.
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