My Clean House by Gini Walker

I recently saw a social media picture that brought a smile to my face. It was a black cat emerging from underneath a bed. It had spider webs all over its face. The cat wasn’t happy and the caption could have read: “My Humans! We need to talk!” Although I have never crawled underneath my bed, I have no doubt my face would have looked the same. Those hidden places in my home are disgusting to me when I see the dust, junk, and cobwebs. But those areas in my house that are visible to everyone receive attention, especially when company is coming. Sometimes as I scan each room, I think, “That will have to do” or “Oops, missed a spot.”

Hidden cobwebs remind me of hidden issues in my heart. Psalm 44:21 (NAS) says, “… He knows the secrets of the heart.” And 1 Samuel 16:7 (NAS) reads in part, “… for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then in Ephesians, those thoughts and words from the heart are addressed: Ephesians 4:29 (NAS) reads, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” And the specifics are stated in Ephesians 4:31 (NAS), “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice.”

God’s Holy Word leaves no doubt in my mind regarding how God feels about my thoughts, intentions, and desires. When I realize my Creator has chosen my heart as His home, reality brings me to pause and ponder my need for housecleaning. Just as I would be embarrassed if guests saw the filth under my bed, I am ashamed as I read those passages about God seeing my dirty heart.

The good news is His compassion about my confessions. Psalm 103:11-14 (NAS) tells me, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame. He is mindful that we are but dust.”