Every time I drive by the house on a certain corner in town, I feel sad.
A couple of years ago, it got a complete face lift, transforming it from an unkempt place with a yard full of random furniture and appliances to an attractive little property.
A few months later, the place looked as bad as ever.
Contrast that to another house in my neighborhood which was neglected for years, paint peeling and lawn shriveled to just weeds. Under new ownership, it now looks tidy, clean, and pleasantly inviting.
The condition of these homes seems directly related to the inner condition of the occupant who is in charge of the place.
That’s kind of how it works with our souls.
Jesus told a story about a man who had a demon exorcised, only to have seven other critters who saw that his “house” was swept clean decide to move back in. His problem was, he had left a vacancy. No amount of external clean-up mattered in the long run.
We can indulge in lots of self-effort, signing up for spiritual activities and merit badges as a means to get shiny and look like we have it together. Our efforts might make us look good on the outside for a while, but ultimately won’t solve anything. The issue isn’t what you look like to others … the issue is who is sitting on the throne of your heart.
Better not leave a vacancy there.
Christianity is not an extreme makeover. It’s not a sin management program. It’s not twelve steps to a better you.
It’s a change of ownership.
How can you make sure Jesus is the one occupying your house?
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