Other than blessed, I feel pretty crummy. My outright cold symptoms seem to be decreasing, but my fatigue, headache, and malaise increasing. And as my nose unclogged, I realized that something smelled bad in the kitchen. I was not sure what it was, but my dear cousin Jerry was coming to take us to dinner last night before his return to NY and I didn't want him walking into a stinky house. So I got out the candle that I bought from hollowcreekfarm.org, which is guaranteed to eliminate all odors. It is a powerful candle. I only use it for emergencies, like when I am not feeling well enough to find the source of the stink, so masking it is the next best solution.
Within seconds, the house smelled pungently of the candle. It would get us through the visit with Jerry. I knew at some point, I would have to buckle down and try to find what smelled like a rotting carcass, but was grateful for the reprieve.
Of course God pursues me even in this event. His symbols are ever before me. Masking what stinks in our homes is ultimately as ineffective as masking what stinks in our soul. You can only pretend the problem is gone when all you have really done is hidden it for a season. Guaranteed: the stink will out itself.
It really is best to get at the root cause, the bottom line issue of the stench, and truly eradicate it. Otherwise, eventually, the stink will return. Developing and keeping a pure character is as difficult as keeping my house smelling nicely. I doubt I am alone in wondering how I will cover the rot in certain aspects of my being.
This is a particularly hard thing to do when one is sick and weary....and most of us struggling souls are. Here is the good news! God can cover the ugliness and terrible odor of our corrupted parts. And when He does, it is truly as though they no longer exist. Our sin is banished from His sight when we believe in the complete and atoning sacrifice of Jesus. We are washed as white as snow, spotless before Him. In His light, we are light. This is incomprehensible, which is why I tend to write nonfiction books. Truth is much stranger than fiction.
Now please do not hear this to mean we should not attack sin in our life with a vengeance. We should! If God has done this incomparable thing for us, we should be so filled with love and gratitude that every waking moment should be one of desiring to please Him. However, He assures us that while we are struggling and will probably always struggle, our eternal salvation is sealed. Even while we yet stink, He loves us and promises not to turn away...ever! I can certainly rest in this amazing love, but I don't think that is what I am being called to do right now either. I am feeling like I should go and be a candle, light the way for others, cover the terrible stench of death and decay of sin with the incorruptible, alluring scent of Christ. In His light, I should venture forth in light. All of us who love Him should.
So the intoxicating smell and flickering flame of the candle filled my home. Jerry never noticed the unpleasant smell beneath the surface, or if he did, he didn't mention it. I followed my nose and discovered it was meat packaging rotting in the kitchen garbage and hustled that bad boy out the door to the trash can. This morning, the bad smell is gone, and the smell of the candle lingers. Meanwhile, I am considering how I can be a candle.
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Psalm 36: 7-9
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
Deep. Wonderful…hard to read. Truth.
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