23 September 2013 - nothing to hide

23 September 2013 - nothing to hide

No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;

In other words, if we want the light, we also need to have a clean room.  The light is going to expose all of the impurity in us.  We like the idea of the light but we don't like the idea of cleaning so we try to have it both ways.  But the lamp is made for the lamp stand.

It is initially unpleasant.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time (cf Heb 12:11).  It isn't so much that the cleaning of these rooms is work on our part.  God is pruning every branch that bears fruit (cf. Joh. 15:2).  With these analogies we can understand why a process like this can feel like such a hassle.  As the lights go up our impurities are revealed.  We are so invested in these that we feel like part of us is being condemned and destroyed.  After all, it's been cluttering our floors for so long.  We're used to tripping over it now and then.

Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.

This is the LORD's project.  He is planting a vineyard with seeds of faith.  He gives it growth with the grace of the Holy Spirit.  He is cleaning the rooms of our lives that we may be built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (cf. Eph 2:22).  He is leading us back from the exile of sin to be built into his house in the new Jerusalem.

the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!

It is so good that it is almost hard to believe.

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.

But it is true, so let us say with Isarel, "The LORD has done great things for us".