Tuesday, March 29, 2011

House

HOUSE
John 14:20
“On that day [day of salvation] you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.”

Sanctification—making God’s kids holy, Christ-like—can be described as remodeling a house. This parable, first penned by George MacDonald in Mere Christianity Book IV, Chapter 9, is roughly paraphrased here. But let’s start at the beginning with the continuation of previous devotions, Glue and Sanctification. Remember Keith, who discovered having fun playing with new friends at school during recess from their 3rd grade classroom?

“Why do you want to be my friend, Shakira?” Keith wondered.

“Jesus teaches us to love everybody.” Shakira explained.

“Oh. How come?” Keith asked.

“Are you a Christian?”

“Uh, is that a condition?” (Keith didn’t expect this).

“Well, yeah! First you have to believe in Jesus before He can help you.”

When someone accepts Christ as Savior, his body becomes a house for the Lord. The indwelling Holy Spirit begins making repairs immediately. What’s happening is getting the plumbing right at first. His new heart needs clean arteries for proper blood flow…so he accepts, rather than rejects the Holy Spirit’s work.

At first he notices that he’s more patient, and doesn’t quarrel as much. That’s to be expected, he thinks. He’s not unhappy with the process so far; people like him better, too. He agrees to play along, as long as he’s not changed too much. Piece by piece, room by room, he begins to shine—with the light of Christ. After many years, his life is working out better than he imagined. Things are smooth-sailing. He feels like he’s got a handle on living life correctly. He's ready to finally reap from life what he sowed, so to speak.

Then suddenly, his health fails and he’s in the hospital. He’s got to learn humility and dependence on others. The rooms he added to his house were being demolished from the inside. A new structure was emerging, different from his original house. This remodeling is painful, and very slow going. He had to boost his patience, and grow his aptitude (AP-ti-tude means ability or talent) for caring for others from a new perspective.

There were plenty of times when he wanted the remodeling to stop. Then God expanded his faith and strength, so that he could persevere (PER-se-veer means to continue on) to the end. Slowly, the rebuilding became gentler, and he realized that he had peace through it all. What he couldn’t see is that his house was remodeled into a palace.

That’s sanctification.

Take Home Nugget
Shakira invites Keith, “Come with me to Sunday school. You’ll love it—and learn more about Jesus there.”
God’s Spirit makes us one;
Giving others honor
Gives glory to His Son.

J.D. Griffith
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