Clean Up the Mess
We had my youngest child’s birthday party yesterday. I have little time to keep up on housework, so you can imagine what the 24 hours leading up to it was like at my house.
If you’re anything like me, you may recognize “the general” that appears handing out tasks and commands to my small army (my children and husband) when guests are coming to the house. There are chores doled out, lists of things to buy, and somewhat of a coordinated schedule to adhere to for the event.
Things get shoved into closets, the office door gets locked because the room becomes a temporary storage unit, and everyone is sleep deprived the day of the event because of all the extra work that continued until late the night before.
However, the house (at least the main part of the house) is cleaner than ever.
Getting ready for this birthday party, I swept the roof of my house; cleaned out all the gutters by hand; repainted the walls in the entryway; decluttered the most visible inside areas; swept and mopped floors; dusted furniture; scrubbed trim; wiped down cabinets; laundered, folded, and put away the most necessitating items; picked up sticks in the yard; put out flowers; made food; prepped drinks; decorated; picked up the cake; organized goodie bags (that I then forgot to give out); and monitored the progress of everyone else’s lists-to-do. You know how it is…or maybe you don’t…maybe it’s just me.
If I kept up on housework, it wouldn’t be such an ordeal when we have company over. I could stick to a schedule, cleaning one room at a time on certain days of the week, give the kids each regular responsibilities around the house to uphold, and simply purge unused and unnecessary items instead of hanging onto them until I have time to go through them.
Let’s be honest; there’s never going to be time to go through them. Things just get put in a pile or tub somewhere and will resurface in a few months when I go searching for something else in all the clutter. With work, three active kids, and a full daily schedule, keeping things tidy just is not my strong point. Props to all you ladies who keep your homes immaculate. I don’t know how you do it.
My husband says we should hire someone to come into our home and help clean, and maybe he’s right. I just have a hard time accepting help from others, especially when it’s something I know I could do myself. I’m prideful in that way, I guess. However, the Bible warns us that, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
That’s the same with all aspects of my life: with my work, in my marriage, and in my walk with Christ. I just have a hard time asking for help because I feel like I should be able to do it all. However, that’s just not feasible. Weariness sinks in and then it becomes hard to fulfill the most basic of duties, like keeping the house clean.
When you don’t keep up on housework, you’re not prepared for the unexpected, such as the dreaded surprise houseguest (gasp!). When someone shows up to your house unexpectedly, there’s no time for grab and stash. At that point, the charade is over, and they get to see your reality.
That may not bother some people, but it does me. It makes me feel embarrassed, like I’m failing in my roles as wife, mother, and lady of the house. I feel the need to apologize for the mess and make excuses as to why my home isn’t pristine, inferring that it usually isn’t in such a chaotic state, when it often is.
Proverbs 6:6-8 reads, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise. Which, having no leader, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” When I see an ant, it’s always busy, ever moving and working. If you put a barrier in its way, it simply finds a way around or over it, and continues forward. If a tiny ant can do so much in preparation, shouldn’t I also?
The Expected Guest
At a party, the guests are expected but at a designated time. We have time to prepare for their arrival. With unexpected guests, there is no time to put things in order. Therefore, it’s best to maintain readiness for whoever may show up at our door.
At the greatest party yet to come, the return of Jesus, we are expecting the guest of honor but do not know when He will be arriving. As with an unexpected guest, we must be always ready.
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44)
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)
In the Bible, we are provided a parable in Matthew 25:1-13 of ten virgins who prepared and were waiting for their bridegroom’s arrival. All ten carried a lamp but only five of them brought along extra oil for their lamps.
While waiting on the bridegroom, who took a long time to arrive, all ten virgins fell asleep. Later, they were awakened by a cry that the bridegroom had arrived. As they went to prepare their lamps, the five who didn’t bring oil tried to get those who did to share with them. However, since those who brought oil only had enough for their own lamps, those who had no oil had to leave to go purchase some.
While they were gone, the bridegroom arrived taking the five who were ready into the wedding banquet with him and shutting the door. When the other five finally arrived, they realized they missed the arrival of the bridegroom and went to the door and asked that it be opened for them. However, in verse 12, the bridegroom answered, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
This parable is a reminder to us to be prepared for Jesus’ return. While all ten virgins brought a lamp that looked ready on the outside, only five of them had prepared to keep their lamps going with extra oil on-hand.
Do you have oil in your lamp today or is it empty? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit or just going through the motions?
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirt of God lives in you. Any if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
The parable of the ten virgins also indicates that our eternal destination is dictated by our earthly decisions and actions. What we do now matters. The choices we make today could be the difference between readiness and rejection.
Just because we may carry a lamp doesn’t mean it’s full or that we’re truly following Jesus.
Don’t get locked out of the banquet hall. The worst words you could ever hear are, “I never knew you; depart from me.” (Matthew 7:23)
Time to Deep Clean
I only deep clean my house when I know we’re having company, like for my son’s birthday party. In the same way, I often clean up my act when I know others are present.
When I see a police car ahead on the road, my lead foot immediately comes off the gas pedal, and I’m glancing in my rearview mirror until I ascertain whether I’ve been caught or not. When my grandparents are present, I guard my tongue and see to their comfort over all others’. At work, I paste on a smile when interacting with patients, no matter my mood and thoughts.
However, if I would drive the speed limit, I wouldn’t have to brake when I see a patrol vehicle. If I spoke in kindness all the time, I wouldn’t need to watch my words. If I had true empathy for others and put their needs before my own, I wouldn’t need to fake a smile and would always put their comfort before mine.
Likewise, in my walk with Christ, I need to be proactive, not reactive. Reading the Bible daily, spending quiet time with God in prayer, fellowshipping with other believers, sharing the gospel, doing good works, role modeling good behavior to my children, following the ten commandments, and striving to live more like Jesus are things I should be doing all the time, not just on Sundays or when God convicts me to do so.
I admit, on Sundays when I head to church, I’m pumped up for praise and worship, but by mid-week, I’m often dragging, my energy depleted. I don’t know the last time I made it to a Wednesday night church activity. If I put God first in all things, I would make it to every church event and keep up my vigor for Christ throughout the week.
Like doing a little bit of work daily to keep our houses clean, we should be cleansing ourselves spiritually (a daily deep-clean) by doing God’s work every day. “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)
Ask yourself, “What are the daily sins that I simply can’t get away from?” Those are the things you should be mindful of and remain in daily prayer about. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Ask yourself, “Am I living as Christ directs me to?” Through His word, parables, and example, Jesus taught us how we should be living, and while none of us can live up to His perfection, we can strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” (James 3:2) That’s not me; is it you?
Ask yourself, “Am I prepared if Jesus returns right now?” No one knows that answer but you. If you can’t answer, “yes,” I encourage you to read the following:
John 3:16-18, Romans 10:9-13, Hebrews 9:11-28, Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 1:7-8
Don’t be a bride late for her bridegroom. Don’t be a homeowner robbed by a thief in the night. Don’t show up with an empty lamp.
Ready or not, Jesus is coming back for His followers, just as it is written. Be ready for Jesus when He comes with open arms, a clear conscience, a fully oiled lamp, and a deep-cleaned, washed-by-the-blood-of-the-lamb soul.
Have a blessed week!
-Becky
