Years ago, a book by Robert Munger called “My Heart, Christ’s Home” had a great impact on me. The author metaphorically compares our heart to a house with many rooms where Christ gradually takes up residence, room by room, until He fully possesses the house.
Now of course none of us would intentionally save a “room” in our heart for the devil, but we may unintentionally leave a “place” where he has access. Thus, Paul warns “Do not give a place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). The word “place” can also be translated “spot” as in “save my spot in line,” or “room” as in “is there any room in the car for me?”
It only takes a spot in our hearts to give the devil a “foothold." And a “foothold” can grow into a “stronghold.”
This word “place” or "spot" can also be translated figuratively as an “opportunity.” Every un-crucified “spot” in our hearts gives our enemy an opportunity to bring us into temptation and sin.
Toward the end of his earthly life, Jesus said “the ruler of this world is coming, and he finds nothing in me” (John 14:0). Peter amplifies the thought, saying that Jesus is “the lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19). There was not even one spot (place, room, opportunity) for the devil to get a foothold in Jesus’ heart.
Someday Jesus will return for a Bride that is “holy and blameless,” without “spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Eph 5:27). We must ask ourselves if we are ready.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteToday's commentary on "spotness" brings to my mind a book that has influenced me, too, written by C.R.Vaughn entitled, The Gift of the Holy Spirit." In it the author illustrates the primary role of the Holy Spirit to be like that of a cleaning lady(!), coming to your door to clean the whole house, wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor, door-to-door, room-to-room.
The author takes an extensive part of his text to describe our hesitancy to open ALL of the doors and give the Spirit ALL access to every corner and closet in our home. But then by way of contrast he also describes the joy the Holy Spirit has in His work as He sets about conforming us to the image of God's dear Son by cleansing the things that need to be cleansed, eliminating the things that need to be eliminated, throwing out the things that need to be thrown out, even killing the things that need to be killed.
Mr. Vaughn teaches that the Holy Spirit considers his role in this capacity to be job number one and a job that He takes infinite delight in doing! With this as a background in my own struggles to overcome the residue of the flesh it truly is a comfort to know that I can release my struggling to overcome sin into His almighty arms of capability and joy!
And when there is accomplishment in cooperation between He and I there is that double portion(His and mine) of "joy unspeakable and full of glory" that can only be present when He is allowed free rein in the process! The neat thing about His role is that He is creating an environment for the Word of God to have its intended effect and, in doing so, progressively preparing my spiritual home for an ever-expanding residence of the King of kings!
The logistics of the whole things amazes me!
Stan