A Remodeling of the Heart

This past week has truly been crazy in my house. We have been remodeling and moving things around everyday. There have been workers here from 8am-6pm, dust and noise. I can’t find anything. I have been wearing the same shoes for the whole week (If you know me, you know what a huge deal this is). I had to take a shower at my best friend’s house. On top of all that, I was sick! Worse than that, we had to finish everything by this past Friday, because my boyfriend’s family is coming over for the first time on Sunday! All this to say, it has been a crazy week.

We weren’t planning on undergoing any sort of remodeling when we decided to invite them over. We just bought a whole set of new furniture, because our old ones were already ripping and wearing out. We had been wanting to buy them for a while, and used this opportunity as a reason.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, our neighbors living beneath us (we live in a two-story apartment) began to complain that there was a lot of noise coming from our apartment when we would walk. So, the landlord came and checked it out, and we realized that there was a big crack in the cement flooring underneath our carpet. We were not able to see this, but the noise that our walk would make indicated that something was up beneath our carpet. Sure enough, when the contractors came and removed our carpet, there was a big crack that ran all through our house. So, we decided that they would fix that, we would put new carpet, and be done.

As they began to work, my dad convinced our landlord to install wooden floors instead of a new carpet. He told him that the work had already started; might as well take advantage of it (we had been wanting wooden floors for a while, but had been refused by our landlord each time we asked). The landlord realized that this was a good point and agreed. So now, we were just going to fix the crack, install the wooden floors, and be done. Oh. And bring the new furniture that was being held at a storage until the work was finished.

When they were still working on the crack, we realized how dirty our walls looked. How ugly, we thought. And they would stand out worse with the new flooring and the new furniture. So, we decided that we would paint the walls, too. Now, we were just going to fix the crack, install wooden floors, paint the walls, get the furniture, and be done. Oh. And in the meantime, my parents bought new furniture for their room also, and decided they were going to buy a new TV, because all the old stuff just looks so ugly with the new stuff.

Wow. What work! All because of one, unseen crack. Yet, do we realize that our very lives undergo this very same remodeling when we come into a relationship with Christ? At first, all He does is point out the crack. Our lives are making too much “noise” and there is something beneath the surface that needs to be fixed. He is a professional, and the only one who can tell why the noise is so loud. So, we let Him fix the crack, before He moves in completely with the new furniture. Then, while the crack is being fixed, He suggests installing different flooring. The noise in your life may be anger, lying, or lust. While the Lord is working on that, He suggests working on the way you speak to other people. Then, while that is being worked on, He tells you that these new ways will look so ugly while our motives are still wrong. So, He begins work on that also.

Before you know it, your entire heart is under construction. And this is hard work! If remodeling our house has been a huge hassle, you can better believe that a remodeling of the heart is going to be even tougher. However, the best news is that the finished product is absolutely beautiful! It is truly worth it. The hurt, the pain, the struggle that we must overcome during the process of remodeling is nothing compared to the great joy of having a beautiful house for our Lord to reside in. Let Him continue to remodel until He is fully comfortable.

Has the Lord began remodeling your heart? How has your experience been? What were some struggles and pains you had to endure? How has it been when one part of the remodeling was finished?

Advertisement