| A condemned house... | | Print | |
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Every day that I take my boys to school, I pass by this pretty little brick cottage-style house. It’s in a lovely neighborhood and, in the right hands, could be very charming. For a little curb appeal, maybe a trellis and a white picket fence would add to the charm. I could see some rose bushes lining the path to lead you to the rounded front door, and window boxes filled with pink flowers. I can picture it all. The very unfortunate thing is the yellow sign posted on the door that reads, “CONDEMNED!” What does it take to condemn a house? Does it have to be rat infested or overrun with termites? Do roaches abide there, or is it ravaged with mold? Is the wood rotted and is the roof falling in? It seems that whatever makes the house unlivable inside is what causes it to be condemned. Likewise, there may not be anything about our outward appearance that seems rotten, infested, or diseased; but we know that on the inside we are condemned. We are riddled with unseen sin, sentenced by our own transgression to spend an eternity separated from God. What if someone came in and had the ability to buy that cottage, re-establish it’s foundation, rewire and run new plumbing? Rebuilding each room, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into the home to bring it back from it's condemned state? Then it would be pardoned, safe from destruction. Jesus paid the price for our condemned lives with His blood, sweat, tears and, finally, His very life. He wants us to establish our foundation in Him. This precious carpenter took on the condemnation of the entire world so that we could have a life that is reworked, rewired, clean and new. He did this so we can live a rebuilt life that is free from destruction and condemnation. Not only will He do the renovation; He longs to live there in our hearts as He continues to work from the inside out until the windows of our souls reflect his love and others are drawn to the coziness of the dwelling. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17.
Submitted by Amy Kuhns Chat now with a spiritual coach I Have A Question Would You Pray With Me? |