What's In Your Closet? Part 2

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

In part one, the topic of being candid was the C of our acrostic of the word CLOSET. If I were to be candid about the condition of my closet, some days I would be embarrassed. You see, there have been times I have lost items because of the clutter formed over a period of time. I have slightly rolled my ankle on a shoe hidden under a pile of worn clothes. When I get to the point of total frustration, I dive into the mess and sort and organize and clean. The pile of clutter disappears and I feel like I have a new beginning.

L- Lost in the clutter. Sin has a way of entering into our spiritual closets and forming piles of clutter in our lives. All sin creates a barrier between us and God. Our sin makes it so hard for us to approach God. As in any relationship, a broken trust creates tension and a feeling of separation and unworthiness. Suddenly sin becomes a mountain of clutter in our spiritual life and leaves us feeling defeated and hopeless. We are in spiritual darkness and cannot see God anymore, and miss out on the abundant living Christ desires for us. No longer do we have that peace that passes all understanding. We are lost in the clutter of our sin.

How do we conquer the mountain of clutter? How do we find the way back from our lost condition? It says in Psalms 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Because of God's unfailing love for us, He alone can cleanse us. He will find us when we call out to Him. It is our choice to ask Him - to open the door of our closet - to reveal the real me and allow God to change the lost condition of our hearts.

How does He do that? He is light! Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Just as a light reveals the condition of our closets, God is able to shine His light in our lives, revealing the sin. He has provided a light and a path - a way out! Just as it takes time for the clutter to accumulate, it will take time for God to work in us and change us; to sort through the mess. We are no longer lost in sin, or unclean, and our righteous acts become glorifying to God.

Lord, thank you for seeking us and for providing a light for our lost condition. Help us to keep from accumulating sin in our lives and may we live holy lives for your glory.

Janet Stutzman