Spring Cleaning
by Carol Ilbery
A week to go! One more week and he’ll be here! I’m so excited—it’s been so long since I’ve seen my dad.
No, wait! One more week? Just seven days? Oooooh, no! Where did the time go? I’ve still so much to do—change the sheets, scrub the floors, shampoo the carpets, vacuum the furniture, dust EVERYTHING! Ok, I’ve got to plan this out…Monday, I’ll do laundry and pick up the bedroom; Tuesday….
<SIX DAYS LATER>
“Whew! Just grocery shopping and one last vacuum and mopping the kitchen floor!” I tell my husband as I slump into the over-sized chair. I’m beat—physically and mentally. Who knew that all of that could be so mentally draining?
“I don’t understand you, honey,” my husband says as he shakes his head at me. “It looks great, but I keep telling you, ‘you just have to do a little each day and you wouldn’t have to work so hard when someone comes.’”
__________________
This routine is one that is played out whenever I have company coming to stay. I always vow to keep up with the house better so I’m not rushed before we have visitors, but then things happen. Time between visits weakens the resolve; kids get sick, shows and books to watch and read and the list just goes on.
I was reminded of this cycle of deep cleaning in Bible study last week as we studied Revelation 16. In the midst of God’s wrath, there is hope for His own in verse 15. He says, “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev. 16:15 NIV)
He hasn’t forgotten us—He is coming for us. Jesus says we need to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44 NIV)
If I kept up with all the cleaning in my house, I wouldn’t have to rush before company comes; I would save myself a lot of stress and worry as well as make life easier at home for the rest of my family.
And so it is with my relationship with Christ. I am to confess regularly the things I do wrong and consistently ask Him to show me the areas I need to work on. This keeps my close to Him; it helps keep in me in His Word and in prayer. Doing this keeps me “awake” and “ready.” It keeps my inner house clean.
Now, if I can do that with my physical house…..
Copyright © March 1, 2007– Carol Ilbery. All rights reserved.
Back to Articles Main Page : : : : Back to Articles Sorted By Writer : : : : Back to Articles Sorted by Title
|
