Bright Renovations

We used to call our basement "the cave". It was dark and damp. We hung out down there, but we were never quite comfortable. The carpet was brown and, in the dark, we were never quite sure what might lurk in there. (Bugs like basements.) It was stained and always felt dirty no matter how much we swept. (Did you note I didn't use the "v" word? - even when I spell it correctly it always looks wrong.) It had inset 4" wide bars on the 4 small windows. It was lit by a few lamps and by the TV that almost took my life several weeks back. [See Monumental Stupidity blog]

A couple weeks ago, we decided it was time for renovation. New carpet. White ceiling. Cream walls and ultra white trim. Bars removed. And the most important addition: Light. Not just any light, but light that will burn your retinas. I'm not kidding. We left the light on and came home in the dark to find our entire back yard lit up. We have come into the light.

Which leads me to the point. I walked down there this morning in the quiet. A host of scriptures were flying through my head. The one I seem to know most well is this: "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 Familiar to many. But I asked the Lord to "unfamiliarize" His word to me.

He reminded me that He IS Light. 1 John 1:5 says that God is Light and that in Him there is no darkness. God has no dark side. That's comforting to me. It means He doesn't hide His character from me. I may not know what He's going to do next, but there's enough light for my feet, and I don't have to worry about Him sticking out His foot to trip me around the turn. He has His best in mind and therefore my best as well.

Because He is Light, we are children of Light. We are IN the Light or "light in the Lord". Eph. 5:8 All things become visible when they are exposed by the light (Eph 5:13). We knew there were lots of flaws downstairs, but they were obscured by the darkness. We could ignore them, but inwardly they made us squirm, made us a little queasy. With the intense light, even after the room was changed, I could see differences in shades of white. I could see where the paint didn't completely cover. Little inequities became obvious. But you know, I was relieved to see them despite the extra work. They could be touched up. And light in the sometimes murky heart of the believer is a really good thing. I don't always like seeing my sin, but praise Him that His light is there to expose it. He removes the bars and sets me free to acknowledge my inadequacy and to embrace His more than adequate grace.

The word says that we are to walk as children of Light and that the fruit of the Light consists in ALL goodness and ALL righteousness and ALL truth. Luke came in right after the renovations were completed. His response was interesting. He said, "Things will just feel cleaner." It won't be perfectly clean. It won't be flawless. But things will sure feel clean, because the fruit of the light is more purity. So it is with us. The resulting fruit of the Light in us and of us walking in the Light will be visible goodness and righteousness and truth. And we'll feel cleaner.

And maybe just like the light illuminating my backyard at night, I'll keep the neighbors awake - they'll be drawn to the Light (if only to tell me it's just a little too bright).

**And this is just a sidebar because I can't resist: The TV that almost took my life was rewarded a few days ago. Two of my men had to move the thing. Remember - I told you it was heavy! It slipped out of their hands and met its demise on the concrete floor. It was shattered and still sits in pieces because the Dorminys haven't figured out how to dispose of it. Though it will be missed by a few members of this household, I feel avenged. And everytime I walk by it, I think "that's what happens to the monuments to our stupidity - God eventually shatters them." :)


Copyright 2009 Sharon Denise Dorminy