Drawing into London on the train a few days ago, I was again struck by how dingy the backs of the houses and shops look. Many were badly decorated, and others looked as if they were about to fall down. Yet I knew that were I to walk down the street in front of those same buildings, the facades they present to the street would be attractive and well kept, said Jenny. “They heard the sound of the Lord, God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 3:8, NIV). I find out how our experiences with God might be similar. God sees not only the exterior we present to the world but also the dingy parts of our lives, all those things we like to hide from other people. God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9, NIV; and, how God come on looking for us calling our name – “The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it,” (Genesis 3:12, NIV).
We tend to blame circumstances for our rebellious acts. But God knows the truth. He holds us responsible for what we’re doing. Disobedience to God's law is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with God. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23, NRSV). Indeed, our sin is still a sin we commit as a sinful act. Sin is self-destructive regardless of how we seek to justify it. We’re still a sinner. Yet a wonderful truth remains. Even seeing us through and through, God still loves us and yearns after us. We are God's own children, and our company – just as we are – makes God happy. And, the apostle Peter says, “As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NRSV).
As we allow God into every part of our life, the dingy places can be cleaned. When we arrive at the place where, by God's guidance, back and front are equally known and cleansed, we will be fully at peace. It’s only through God's salvation that He saves us from the eternal consequences of our sin. God is willing to forgive us and restore us to fellowship with the Father.
We acknowledge our transgressions we understand how our sins hurt God and our own lives. Our hearts and minds must be in the right place so that we will have the wisdom, strength and determination to change for the better. Once that happens, the world would be a much better place for us to live in.
Prayer Response to this featured article:
We pray for God to shape up our life as we invite Him into our lives. We pray that we would open ourselves to let Him cleanse us, and for the Lord to fill us with life-giving presence.
Profile Background:
(Written by Jenny Martin, – (Buckinghamshire, England), the unrecalled date/year of published time from Upper Room Ministries)
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