Covering Up The Mess Doesn't Make It Clean

Remember when our mother would tell us to clean our room, and it took only a few minutes to do it? What would she do? Come right behind us and tell us to clean it again, but this time to her liking and not our own. I would be so angry at her for making me do it the right way. It also took longer to do it. Truthfully, what was wrong with the way I had cleaned it in the first place? Looking back, I can tell what was wrong. See if this rings a bell.

My dirty clothes were in a pile in the far left corner (hanging out the basket). My clean clothes were not neatly hung on the hangers in the closet (they were just wrinkled/wrapped on the hanger). My shoes were (thrown) under the bed. My stereo, clock, record player, TV, drawer and chest had dust all over it. My bed was half made. Oh yeah, the floor was dirty. I couldn't find the dust pan so I swept some of the dirt under the rug. Big mistake. But it gets even better, I tried to mop around the rugs and compensate for the dirtiness with Pine-Sol and Lysol. Problem was, the smell didn't cover up the dirty, filthy room I had. No, it made it dirtier.

There are other good examples of trying to cover up messes in our lives. We pretend everything is wonderful when the Pastor asks how we are doing. Why is that? Why can't we just say, "My husband hasn't been faithful to me." "I found out I have cancer and it's terminal," "My child ran away from home because I have a problem with drinking," "I don't have enough money to pay the light and water bill this month because I spent it on the race last week," But when you cover up one mess, you begin covering up another and another until you can't find the original mess. It's like living a lie or covering up a lie (even a white lie is a lie). My brothers and sisters, we need to stop covering up our mess and let God handle it. But God can't handle it unless you give Him all of it.

Take a look at this scripture passage about being clean. How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14. (New Century Version). Sin is an useless act that only keeps you from obeying God. And how can we serve God if we're too busy being kings and queens. We can't. Our purpose in life is to serve God and serve Him only. Every sin we commit and not ask for forgiveness makes it that much easier to sin. The hard part in our minds is admitting to God our sins. But that's what the devil wants, and I am not giving him any more credit for taking me down. I'm going right on up ... up to glory shouting, singing, and clapping.

So, when my mother asked me to clean my room I had a choice to clean it right or do it all over again. God too gives us a chance each day to do it right. Sure we may not do it right today, but praise God that He allows us the opportunity to do it right again and again and again. It's when we cover our sin up that keeps our conscience from going to God first. Instead my friend, turn it around. Go to God and ask Him to forgive you and cover you in His love, grace and mercy. And all that ugly mess, will be God's blessedness.