‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh’ Ezekiel 36 v 25, 26
Sometime in May this year we were hosted by a couple who are our friends with my husband. They were in the process of renovating their house. It was a house they had purchased two years back and immediately started on the renovation process. Since they moved into the house immediately after purchasing, it meant that they had lived with the inconvenience of being on a semi-construction site for the entire time that they had owned the house.
What caught my attention when they were narrating the journey thus far was the fact that they had so far only made major structural changes on the inside. This included shifting walls and rearranging rooms to obtain the look and functionality that they wanted. Without shifting the external walls of the house, major changes were happening on the inside. The only changes that they had made on the external walls were the removals of old narrow doors, replacing them with more spacious and modern sliding glass doors. According to their plan they were going to do the outside painting and the landscaping of the gardens last when the inside was to their satisfaction.
To me it seemed as if this couple had bought a house that they did not want. They went on to explain that without a doubt they wanted that particular house when they bought it. In fact what had motivated them to buy it was the potential that they saw in it. They envisioned what it would become once they were through with it. Why spend more than 90% of their time and money on the inside and not the outside? The rationale was that they spent most of their time inside the house, so it had to look the best and be the best functional for their comfort and that of their guests.
Listening to this couple talk about their incomplete house with such passion and expectation reminded me of a different kind of Renovator. God saw me wounded and weary from sin. My life and the condition of my heart were so unsightly that only a loving God would even give me a second look. On His first sight of me he looked way beyond what I was, and saw what I could become when He had worked on me. Long before I was formed, He decided to pay the ultimate price for me, that of His life on Calvary’s tree. Like our couple friend, God chose to move in immediately in spite of the inhabitable state that my heart was in. His focus was on the joy of having me let Him in to be the Master who would decide what needed to be changed and how the change would be organised.
Sometimes those who know that I have chosen to be friend to a supposedly all-wise, all-powerful and loving God wonder at why my circumstances continue to be the same, or even become more unpleasant sometimes since Jesus came into my heart. They ask themselves if my choice was a wise one. What they do not know until they come closer is that God is working on the inside. He focuses on changing the important areas first, those that are His dwelling place and those that impact on those who come into close contact with me. When the inside is to His satisfaction, then and only then will He change the outside, my circumstances so I can fully enjoy the blessings that have always been mine. The ultimate change will be on that great day when Christ shall come to take us home.
After choosing to follow Christ, your circumstances may be leaving many wondering why you are continuing with Him. Do not be discouraged, Jesus did say that the world would hate us for being His followers. The rubble outside are the unwanted characteristics and traits that have to make way for the new design that your inside is becoming. Some of the unsightly stuff outside is the construction material that must be brought inside to build the new walls from which beautiful pictures will hang, to create new rooms from where laughter will ring and beautiful relationships will be built with family and friends. Even before the work is complete, guests who pass by and touch your life will notice the change on the inside and they will rejoice with the re-Creator for the masterpiece that they see coming.
At some point along the journey of life, even though there may be touch-ups that will need to be done from time to time, the essential house will be completed both on the inside and the outside. The external walls shall be painted, the garden shall be done. Beautiful fragrances shall come forth. The fence shall be mended and even the outside will testify that the great Restorer has been there and continues to reside there, repairing what gets damaged and ensuring that the home is properly maintained.
Thank God for not ever giving up on you. Praise His name for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that purchased our pardon from sin. Think of the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit who continually works with and in you to perfect you for the eternal life that God has promised. Be blessed
Further reading: Ezekiel 11 v 19, 20
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