We have had an interesting time in our house recently. Our bedroom and bathroom needed painting, as well as various spots in the kitchen. So each morning, bright and early, our friendly painter turned up, cheeky and chirpy as ever.
Some parts of our house needed much painstaking work. We have lived here for thirty-two years, after all, and the house was in existence long before that. But other parts, especially our kitchen area, needed only a little touch-up on the ceiling—or so we thought. However, when asked his opinion, what was our erstwhile painter’s response?
‘Look, I don’t need any more work … but have you noticed at how dirty these walls are? It’d be just as easy to paint’em than to scrub them all. I could clean’em down a bit with metho and water, then give’em a quick couple of coats. That way, it’ll all look spic and span!’
I was doubtful—until he showed me the area high up he had wiped clean. In that spot, the wall was a nice, light cream colour, while elsewhere … Well, let’s just say it was noticeably a few shades darker. Hmm. Now I could see where all that kitchen grease had gone!
In the end, we decided to paint those kitchen walls. It made sense, after all—and that way, other imperfections would be covered up as well.
As I watched the whole process unfold, I began to think how much easier it is to repair our material surroundings than to repair ourselves. If we try to clean ourselves up in our own strength and make ourselves appear more presentable, we might look and feel okay for a while, but nothing has really changed. Soon we fall into those same old traps—judging others, losing our temper, being a little dishonest here and there, or whatever seems to come naturally to us and has been our weakness for so long. As Jesus himself said:
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” Matthew 9:16-17
What we truly need in our lives is not just a ‘touch-up job’—or even a good makeover. We need those new wineskins. We need a complete demolishing of the old, a brand new start, a deep change that begins on the inside and flows out into our words and actions.
And that is exactly what God has given us in Jesus.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Yes, we will still make wrong choices in our lives. But we are still God’s beloved children, part of God’s family, changed forever at the core of our being. God’s own Spirit lives in us. And God is always there for us, welcoming us home, reaching out in forgiveness. In Jesus, God has given us much more than a couple of coats of paint to cover those blemishes. And I’m so glad of that.
Yes Jo – Anne it’s True We work out our Salvation not meaning work for it. When we are Born again of God’s seed the Old Nature has gone, we have a New Nature because we have God’s seed and no longer Sin, yes we put to death our Carnal flesh by The Spirit .( Romans 8 :12-15- Romans 6 – Colossians 3:4-6 -Galatians 5:24 -26) and we Aim to be Perfected in Love (Matthew 5:48 – Hebrews 6:1-Philippians 3:14-16 -2Timothy 3:17-1John 4:16-19- 1John 2:4-6- 2Corinthians 13:11) and we will than be as Jesus in this World, Holy and Righteous.
1 John 3: 1-11 ( 9 ) No one who is Born of God will continue to Sin because God’s seed remains in him he cannot go on Sinning because he has been Born of God.
1John 3:2 -7 Whosoever abideth in Him Sinneth not: whosoever Sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children let no Man deceive you, he that doeth Righteousness is Righteous even as He is Righteous.
1John 5:18-20 We know that no one who is Born of God Sins but He who was Born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth everyone who Sins is a Slave to Sin. Now a Slave has no permanent place in the family but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you Free you will be Free indeed.
Romans 6:6- 7 For we know that our old self was Crucified with Him so that the body of Sin might be done away with that we should no longer be Slaves to Sin because anyone who has died has been freed from Sin.
Romans 6:18-20 Being then made Free from Sin, ye became the Servants of Righteousness.
1 John 2:4-6 He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word in him verily is the Love of God Perfected hereby know we that we are in Him He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.
1John 4:17-19 Herein is our Love made Perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love but Perfect Love casteth out fear because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made Perfect in Love. We Love Him because He first Loved us.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto Perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit Perfecting Holiness in the fear of God.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be Purified and made White and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the Wise shall understand.
Christian Love Always – Anne.
Thanks for taking the time to remind us all of those great verses from Scripture, Anne, about where we stand with God and about what God has done for us. God bless!