Where is that stink coming from?

Have you ever opened the frig and turned aside from the nasty odor assaulting your nostrils? "Peeuww, that really stinks. I wonder what is causing that putrid smell. Now I have to clean out the frig." is usually the ugly realization that flits through our brain at such a moment.

If we keep the frig cleaned out and throw out the waste, our refrigerator performs like a champ; keeping our food cold and ready for use. If we let the leftovers turn to mold and leak that nasty rotting juice all over, we have a smelly mess to clean up and wasted food to throw away.

Life can be like a refrigerator. When we let habits, hobbies, or hungers sneak in and begin to produce rot in our thoughts, words and actions, we have a mess to clean up. God's Word is the eternal source of wisdom that can keep our thoughts, words and actions in check if we diligently apply His life-giving principles. The problem is the flesh loves to hide things in closets like that pound of hamburger hiding in the back corner. The secret sin is so much fun and meets our need, but becomes our task master.

We ignore the warning signals that the Holy Spirit gives us that something is not quite right, but we do it anyway, over and over, until we end up with a big stink coming from the closet. When we open the door, we find a dead stinking body; our secret sin is exposed to the air and to the light and to everyone around us. At this point, we can either hide our head in the sand and pretend it didn't happen or we can decide that it is time for a change. It is time to clean out the closet; it is time to stop riding the fence with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. We can choose to let truth have her perfect work in our lives. Freedom is now on the way!

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

When darkness comes into contact with the light, darkness flees! When salt is used in baking or cooking, it flavors! When a mustard seed is planted, it eventually takes over all the plants in the garden. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings light into our lives; the truth sets us free as love invades our closets and transforms them over time.

The process of transformation happens as we give ourselves into the hands of an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God. We start on our journey of being made into the image of Christ as our potter shapes our lives and our character. He gently communicates how we sees us and who He created us to be. As our understanding grows, the dead bodies in the closet get hauled away. If we are diligent to nurture our relationship with Father God, the frig stays clean.

Our lives can give off a pleasant aroma that will attract others. Choose Him and He will make all things smell beautiful in His time!

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your strength and with all your mind; Luke 10:27a