Spiritual Rubble and Old Homes

We went to visit a waterside townhome advertised for sale on Craigslist. We knew it was a long shot, but the worst that could happen is we would have a nice drive to the lovely lake. As you can see from the photo, the location was spectacular.

Then we walked in the front door and that is where spectacular ended. The house was in marked disrepair. Broken slats and leaning, splintered railings on the deck, huge holes in moldy looking water damaged ceilings, strong smell and stains of cats in the old, ragged carpet upstairs, piles of junk and dust everywhere.

I didn't know what to say to the owner except what a lovely setting her home was in.

As we drove away, I told my husband, "I didn't think there would ever be a house I would not consider if it was along the lake. I was wrong." I could think of no hope for that house but to raze it and start from scratch.

A home doesn't get in that condition overnight. There had to have been years and years of neglect. It struck me this morning that this is what happens to our souls when we stray little by little from God. At first the wreckage may not be apparent, but over time, it becomes an impossible pile of filth. One choice to disobey Him just a little, one little 'white lie', one small compromise of conscience....and soon all that is left is a pile of spiritual rubble.

Fortunately, I know the absolute BEST General Contractor for the soul. He will indeed destroy the old me, but He rebuilds me into something absolutely stunning. And then He moves that new creation to an incomparably beautiful setting where there will be no more damage. Ever. Forever.

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2 Corinthians 5:1 

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Isaiah 9:10 

“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

1 Peter 2:5 

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.