I read recently that the Italians (of which I am one) have an interesting custom (which I have never participated in). On New Year’s Eve, at midnight, the windows of every house open, and everyone pitches out whatever they absolutely hate-furniture, clothes, dishes, unwanted wedding presents (hopefully not the spouse! 🙂 )-they all come crashing down to the ground. That is what I call some serious housecleaning. Talk about “Look out below!”
Have you ever moved? What a great time to get rid of unwanted our unused items. “Let’s see. I haven’t used this in 10 years. In fact, I forgot I even had it.” Pitch. “This broken chair I said I was going to fix 6 years ago?” Pitch.
We call it purging. Pack rats need to do some serious purging. Hoarders need to do some serious purging.
Sinners need to do some serious purging. Huh. That includes all of us. Unless, of course, you have no sin. No guilt. No regret over past actions or thoughts. (stated sarcastically and with tongue-in-cheek). Too many of us carry around garbage from our past. We hoard it. We bury it trying to forget it. But then some event, some word, some action, some thing, brings it all back and we are forced to deal with it. Maybe we had buried it so deeply we had forgotten it, but there it is!
2 Cor. 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (Both Scripture from ESV) Both of those verses talk about some serious purging. Of getting rid of sin in order to find new life.
Purging your house of old, unused, useless trash, i.e. garbage, is helpful and sometimes necessary. Purging your life of sin-past, present, and future-is absolutely necessary. Have you cleaned house?
Whenever I hear someone say I have no regrets in life, I say that person does not understand sin. Psalm 24:4, I have ask God to reveal to me past sins I had not ask forgiveness for, even though it can be hard to think about it, asking for forgiveness for past sins, it’s a great cleansing for your soul. Think about Romans 8, how great is our God that when we confess we get love, forgiveness, peace, set free, no condemnation, God pulls us closer He does not push us away when we confess. You cannot hide your sins from God, and yet there is no one on earth, that will give you forgiveness like God. Paul describes the sin that lives in us, and as long as we live in the flesh sin will be with us. Knowing that God loves us, and understands our struggles, and is willing to forgive us when we ask, is a peace at a level that is indescribable.
I most definitely agree with you Gail about the “no regrets” comment. Regrets come in all sizes, shapes and colors. but your example of praying and asking for forgiveness is vital. Thanks for sharing your “secret” with us.
When it comes to sin, Bill, every day should be trash day. Let’s confess that sin, have God’s forgiveness, and then put those old sins on the garbage heap!
Blessings!
Couldn’t agree with you more Martha. On all counts.
2 Corinthians 5:17 has been my favorite verse since I first trusted in Jesus. Every day I need to be reminded of this promise that goes hand in hand with 1 John 1:9–if we confess our sins God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A gift to thank Him for every day
Yes it most definitely is Pam. I thank Him every day for His salvation for me.
LOVE this post, Pastor Bill!
Thank you Cheryl.