“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Corinthians 3:17
While living in a college dormitory for 18 months, the quarters were too crowded for my wife, daughter, and myself. With only being able to afford $135 a month, the task seemed impossible to find our own home.
God, however, made it possible for us to get a gutted, two-bedroom house. The structure was abandoned after the previous owner halted his remodeling. God put into our hearts to buy the shambled structure anyway, and He miraculously provided just enough money to do the necessary repairs and restoration to the property.
Weakened and damaged lumber was replaced, as were the plumbing, insulation, electrical, and sheetrock. Soon, the newly restored house was beautiful to our eyes. God provided the means to rebuild the house when financially, it did not seem feasible.
While we lived there, missionaries were housed, visitors fed, and those in need of counsel knew where they could find discernment. Sunday school lessons and sermons were written there. The house was dedicated and used for God’s glory.
When the Lord called us to move to another ministry, the house was sold. A different owner took possession of the property.
Years later, a friend drove by our old residence and took pictures of it for us. After viewing the videos, we were shocked by what we saw.
The house’s outside was now green with algae. Litter cluttered the yard. Trees that were once lush and fruitful were dead and missing. Fences were in disrepair. The house was no longer the beautiful structure that was dedicated and used for God’s glory. It was not the house we left.
After being saddened by what remained of our old home, I contemplated a spiritual similarity. The Holy Spirit often does the same to someone as the Lord allowed to happen to our house. He repairs and makes lives “new,” but too often, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is allowed to return to shambles.
God sees one’s desperate need for restoration. When He hears their acceptance of Christ’s death as payment for one’s iniquities and hears pleas to have sins forgiven, He does. Slowly, He changes the believer into a new, different person. He cleans and rebuilds their “house.”
With the Holy Spirit’s help, a dirty sinner becomes a forgiven and changed believer. Many glorious changes are performed in the child of God’s life. He soon is not the person he once was.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17
Sadly, something sometimes happens to that improved believer. A “little” sin creeps in and changes what the indwelling Spirit of God had accomplished in the believer’s life. Soon, iniquity has more control in the person’s life. Praying, Bible-reading and obedience to God’s commandments cease. The loving Spirit that came into one’s life and made magnificent changes is ignored and forgotten. That Spirit never leaves the person he so lovingly helped, but He is grieved (Eph. 4:30) and no longer works in that believer’s life. However, He is still there — waiting.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Gal 5:9 (“Leaven,” or yeast, is a picture of sin. It only takes a little “leaven” to change flour and water into a loaf of bread.)
Disrepair wrecks and ruins the life of the once shining example of the good the Holy Spirit did in the sinner. Old, sinful habits return and create more havoc in the backslidden believer’s life. A godly testimony is no longer evident by lifestyle and behavior. One’s spiritual “house” is in disarray and disrepair. It is not the happy, God-pleasing life it once was. Read: Mat. 12:43-45.
Unfortunately, this is true in thousands of lives. They were once surrendered believers, allowing the Spirit of God to make marvelous changes and improvements to their lives. Now, they are weaker shells of what the Holy Spirit made of them.
There is, however, still hope. While there is breath, there usually is an opportunity for the saved child of God to obey again, allow the Spirit of God to use them, and let Him improve the believer. It is never too late, although not all the sin scars from one’s rebellion against God’s commandments may be removed.
If you have been saved but have allowed your sinful nature to once again rule and reign in your life, the beckoning Holy Spirit’s plea calls for you once again. Heed God’s commandments and submit yourself to His call. Do what you did when you were close to Him in the past.
Read and feed on God’s Word. As one is reminded of where the Holy Spirit’s call was ignored or disobeyed, repent and beg His help and mercy once again to rebuild your “house.” God is the God of second, third, fourth… chances. Let Him repair what you allowed to be in disrepair. He is willing to help!
“If you want your neighbor to see what the Christ spirit will do for him, let him see what it has done for you.” — H. Beecher
Very fine work. I really enjoy your devotionals. They are not boring and very relatable. God bless your work.