Verses

If there is one thing that is gross about being in public its the public restrooms.  Even my favorite stores tend to do a bad job at keeping them clean enough for the sanitary few who are forced to use them.  As unpleasant as a trip to the public restroom can be, I often look forward to the short experience.  This may seem strange, but I love finding surprises in the stalls.   Quickly, before your mind travels to disgusting images of what I might mean here, let me say that I do not mean gross surprises.  

What I look forward to is the ever increasing collection of phrases and advice that is scratched into or drawn on the walls of the stalls.  Recently, I was in a stall at my favorite bookstore when I read "grab life by the balls". I didn't totally get it,  in fact it sounded painful, but I had a feeling that whoever wrote it wasn't one for caution anyway.  Other bits of info on the walls included phone numbers for drugs or sex, and even a poem about how life was all about money and the ability to get enough of it.  

Throughout all my time spent in stalls, I have concluded that what is written within them is a fairly accurate representation of what mankind essentially believes to be true.  Whether the authors are calling for African aid or pushing hate and lustful passion, the dirty documents stand as reminders of what mankind has come to.  

Yet sometimes I see writing on the walls that is of an entirely different nature.  The small words and numbers  on the door often stand out to me due to their relatively unassuming size and look. In fact, these little bits of graffiti don't even say anything at first glance, they are merely citations. "psalm 27:14" one might say.  "proverbs 28:26" might be another.  To the average person these citations most likely mean next to nothing.  Yet to me, they are everything.  

Unlike the rest of the writing that people come up with, these citations on the wall are actually references to the Word of God.  The citations are from scripture.  Mankind loves to come up with advice about how to live life.  The evidence is on the walls of the stalls and in the brokenness of the culture.  Just as the verses say "whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered"(Proverbs 28:26.) 

These verses have proven themselves true in my life time and time again.  The world and its foolish thinking strives to produce advice for me to live by, yet the world's  advice is not based upon the truth of the Word of God.  Just as the mind was created by God it was also created for God.  G.K  Chesterton would say that to have an open mind is good, yet the purpose of an open mind is to shut it upon something solid.  The world does not base its thinking upon absolute truth and therefore advises strategies and tactics for living that run opposite the grain of the ultimate reality: God.  A strong understanding of theology is the key to wisdom on earth.  The only way to a strong theology is a strong understanding of the scriptures.

There in lies the great fork in the road.  Men must choose who will win the great battle of their mind: Scripture V.S  Advice.  The difference between the two is eternally significant.  Contrary to worldly understanding, scripture always tells us that we are helpless to fix our own lives! In fact it tells us to do the one thing we do not want to do: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"(psalm 27:14.)  Yet it is so true! Whenever my life seems to be spiraling out of control or my tactics seem to be failing I am simply left with scripture, and the fact that I have been neglecting it.  

On the other hand, whenever I deliberately follow the truth of scripture the end is always ok! There are many days I wish that it were not so, there are many days that I wish that my plans and desires would simply fall into place.  There are times that I think my advice is just as good or even better than what the Bible may have to say, only to be reminded of proverbs 30:5-6: "Every Word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar." 

As we live our lives by either scripture or advice, we shall soon see the writing on the wall. 

Dish Washer

I came home from church one morning feeling absolutely wonderful. Spirit filled is really a better way to put it.  As I walked through the door, I could see my kitchen sink full to the brim with dishes and cups, pots and pans.  It felt like the Spirit jumped right out of me.  I couldn't help but ask the questions of  "Who did this? How did these get here?" and the like.  I sort of dropped my bible and pen on the table as I approached the mountain of crusted cheese and unidentifiable scum that had accumulated on the various dishes.  

I looked out the window as the sink filled with the warm soapy water I would need to accomplish the task before me.  Taking the first glass in hand I began to pick and scrub off the red substance that seemed to have bonded itself onto the cup eternally.  Slowly but surely the glass became clean.  As I held it up to the window, I could see the beautiful prisms of light shining through it in clarity and radiance.  

The pile of dishes shrank as I continued to wash.  Not too far into the process I could feel my self being filled with the Spirit again.  As I was washing,  I began to understand the beautiful symbolism of what was happening.  I began to imagine what it must feel like for God as He cleanses us from our sins, as dirty, as numerous and as stubborn as they are.  

Just as man designed and created the drinking glass, so God has designed and created us.  The Word says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  As I was cleaning my dishes, I delighted in their beauty and design.  I was made glad by their being restored to their original and undefiled condition.  I took great joy in restoring them.  

God is the same.  He loves to restore us (His creation) to our original condition.  He loves to wash us with the blood of His son that we might be cleansed and renewed completely. He will not stand for anything to remain upon His creation that He has not placed there Himself. No blemish, no mark, no personal passion or vice.  He takes joy only in restoring us entirely.  God does not do halfway jobs.  We know this because He is both the Author and Finisher of our faith.  

As I kept washing I could not stop until the pile no longer existed.  I had to get the job done.  In the same way I know that God never begins a work only to leave it unfinished.  I find it very encouraging to know that God will never leave me halfway done.  I will never be left in a pile of divinely unfinished business.  Never left to rot in my imperfection and dirt.  

I can't clean myself, and so God takes great joy in cleaning me that His light and glory might shine forth when he holds me up to the sky.