Perceptions #200212

"The Art Of Interior Decorating"

by Dr. Bill Denton

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." (Matthew 15:18-19, NASB95)

Warren W. Wiersbe relates that one day he was scanning the shelves in a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he discovered a volume out of place. It was in the "Religion" section, but the title of the book was The Art of Interior Decorating. He started to remove the book, but then it dawned on him that the volume was just where it belonged. For, after all, isn't that what the Christian faith is all about -- interior decorating? "I can't think of a better description of the Christian life than 'interior decorating.'" he commented. "You see, the Bible emphasizes the fact that each of us has an 'inner man' -- the real person down inside. The body may change and decay and even die, but the 'real you' down inside will live forever." - Bible Illustrator

I like that, don't you? - The Art of Interior Decorating. I can tell you from personal experience that interior decorating is not something I'm good at doing. Oh, I can paint a wall, shove the furniture around a bit, and even hang pictures on the wall. But, I can promise you that nobody from House Beautiful is going to include my house in a picture spread for their magazine. When I get through, the place still looks like a guy spread a little paint, shoved the furniture and slapped a few pictures on the wall. Decorate isn't the word many people would use for my arrangements.

Human lives are a bit like this. We're like houses that have seen better days. The effects of sin have run us down, faded and jaded us, and left us in shambles. We're in need of drastic renovation. We need someone to come along and salvage us before we crumble into dust. Just as the right person can do wonders with old, dilapidated houses, there is a person who can do wonders with our lives.

That person is Jesus Christ. He comes along and finds us with hearts that are filled with all sorts of terrible looking things. A good craftsman, he begins by forcing us to deal with reality. Like a house that has dry rot, termites, or failed plumbing, so he makes us deal with the reality of hearts filled with evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and slander -- among other things. One person might look at dilapidated houses and write them off as total losses. The next guy comes along, restores the houses to things of beauty, and amazes everyone. Who would have thought that wreck of a place could ever look so good? Who would have thought that wreck of a person could ever become something so good?

It happens all the time. Someone finally sees the truth. Sin has ruined them. As they are, they are worthless. They are a human wreck of a life. The evidence of the effects of sin are obvious and many. There is a lot of pain involved when one sees the truth about himself. Do not despair, however, for there is help available. Jesus is the master craftsman, able to renovate, restore, and redecorate the life so marred by sin.

His is not just a surface or outside restoration. In fact, the major part of the job Jesus does on human lives is done on the inside. Interior decorating is his specialty. He takes the formerly sin-ruined heart, crusted over with the built-up residue of sinfulness, and turns it into something totally new. He removes the sin, the repairs the damage, and he beautifies what was ugly.

Your heart may be filled with those life-destroying things. You may have already suffered the debilitating effects of sin. One look at you and it might be easy to recognize the knocks, bruises, rips and tears that have occurred over time. You might acknowledge the need for something to happen soon before your life is ruined altogether.

I've got some good news. Jesus has an opening right now to do some interior decorating. He's willing to start whenever you say the word. You can become something new! When would you like for him to begin?

© Copyright 2002, Dr. Bill Denton

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