Spring Cleaning the Hidey Hole

 

Joshua 7:20-21 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

21When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Last week the spring cleaning bug finally bit me. If some of my friend’s Facebook pages are any indication, then the bug bit me a little later than everyone else this year, but at least it bit me. I think he missed me last spring. But you know the bug has bit you, because you wake up that morning feeling a little on the manic side, and you have grand visions of what your house is going to look like when you’re done.

As is my custom, I immediately tore into the worst spot of the entire house. The place we like to call “The Hidey Hole.” Now when we moved into this house I was thrilled that in the back of the house, attached to my daughter’s room was an extra little room. An entire spare room with a closet! I had just moved out of a 900 square foot house with little closet space. This was a luxury to me. But this “entire extra room” has become a horrible little burr in my brain. Its existence sort of hangs over my mind all day, haunting me. Because here is the thing about having an “extra room” that did not have any official use in my home: it became my “Hidey Hole”, a gross little catch all spot where I just started stuffing things. It had gotten so bad that you could no longer see the floor. The pile of stuff just started at the door way and sloped upwards.

As I dug through the yuck, I began thinking about “Hidey Holes” in our lives spiritually. Dark little rooms where we stuff things hoping no one opens that door. Like Achan, frantically digging his hole in his tent to stuff in his stolen goods, how often do we slip away to our hidey holes to hide away our sins?

Usually when we think of “sneakiness” or hiding things our minds instantly go to “big” sins, like adultery, fornication, stealing. But our hidey holes can fill up just as easily with bitterness, anger, discontentment, gossip, jealousy. In fact they fill up much faster with these things because these are the sneaky sins the devil most often tempts established “Christians” towards. These are the sins of “moral” people. Let’s look a little closer at Achan’s hidey hole in hopes of shedding some light on our own.

1. Achan justified the stolen items by thinking they would be “good” for him. “When I saw among the spoils a GOODLY Babylonish garment.”  Humans are very creative at coming up with ways to justify sin, no matter how wicked we can always put a positive twist on it in the beginning.
2. Achan’s sin affected all the people of God around him. Joshua 7:1 “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” God’s anger was kindled at all the children of Israel because of what one man did! Never ever think the sins in your hidey hole are just “your business.” You are part of the family of God and hopefully a member of a New Testament church and each Christian affects his church. Your sins are not your own, they will reach out and affect others.
3. Achan’s sin was a hindrance to his pastor. V6 “And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.” Even before Joshua knew what had happened, he knew something was wrong. True men of God know when things are amiss in their congregation. Our sin can be an unnecessary burden on our already burdened spiritual leaders.
4. Achan’s “secret” sin came out in a very public way. V20 “And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done.” Take a moment to truly imagine the possible ending consequences of your hidden sins. What type of embarrassment or pain will it cause for you and for others?
5. If he had cleaned out his own hidey hole and repented, the leaders of Israel wouldn’t have had to do it for him. V 22-23 “So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.” There is few things as sweet as timely repentance; knowing in your heart that you’ve made things right BEFORE the Lord had to begin chastising you.
6. Achan and his family died because of his sins. V24-25 “And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.” If sin remains in your hidey hole long enough it can affect the spirituality of your family, especially your children. How sad if our children are spiritually “stoned” because of hidden sin that we refuse to confess and repent of.

 

It is a sweet feeling to get a room like mine all cleaned out and organized. Once my hidey hole was all tidied up, and I got rid of many garbage bags full of junk, I just sat back with a cup of coffee and relaxed, knowing it would not bother my mind any longer. And isn’t that the feeling, times a hundred, when we repent and let the Lord tidy up our hidey holes, throw open the windows and let the spring breezes blow through our spirit? Open up those windows this morning and see if you need to do some spring cleaning of the soul.

 

The Great Hope

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Years ago I made a decision to watch as little news as possible. The negative weight of things I had no control over had become overwhelming, so for a good long while I refused to follow any kind of news programs. However, like many others, when the recent shooting took place in New England I was glued to the television. After a few days, though, I realized I was not watching anymore to hear news about the children. The children had passed and it was unspeakably sad, but even after I had heard all of their stories, I keep watching every day. I was wanting to hear something else. I was wanting someone to tell me about the young man. I was wanting to hear how someone’s little boy had grown up to feel so very angry and hopeless. But eventually I turned the news back off (hopefully for another good while) because no one could tell me that story.

Who can explain how hope dies in a human heart? What toxic ingredients mixed under the right amount of pressure produce and individual’s despair? I can not explain it, except perhaps to say, just as fungus grows in the damp absence of sunlight, despair grows in the lonely absence of God. A soul not in contact with its Father, falters and fumbles like a small child left behind to navigate the brambles alone.

But in the above verses can’t you just hear the Savior’s desire for intimacy with us. “Believe in me, I’ve made a place for you, I want you to be with me. I’m coming back for you.” These aren’t words of a Bible commentator, or preacher, or saint, or even of an apostle. These were Christ’s own words to you. Words of hope if ever there were. Hope that there is more than just this small planet full of great pain. Hope that we can be more than scared, lost children in a dark fairy tale. Hope that there is just infinitely more.

Night, Night, Sleep Tight!

Read Proverbs 3:23-24

Most mothers, most parents, have experienced the night time interruptions of frightened children. The insistent poke in the shoulder accompanied with, “Mommy, Mommy! Can I sleep with you?” Bad dreams and strange noises send most kids running for their parents’ bed. My youngest son, who seems to have particularly vivid dreams, has often come to me in the night physically trembling with fear, with no more explanation than just, “I’m scared!”

After eight and half years of sleep interruptions, I’ve learned the quickest way back to sleep is to simply scoot over (thank God for king sized beds) and cuddle the little guy (or girl) up. What has not ceased to amaze me though, is the instant change that comes over a little person when taken into their parents’ bed. My son who moments before was trembling, heart racing and on the verge of tears, will immediately relax, melting into the warmth of Mommy and within minutes fall fast asleep.

Why does our presence create such a transformation in our children when they are frightened? Is it because we are bigger and stronger? I’m sure that has something to do with it. But not just any bigger, stronger person would do in the middle of the night, would they?  There is something more. It is the solid, unshakeable conviction (though the child scarcely understands it themselves) that this bigger, stronger person loves me beyond all limits and will do everything in their power to protect me from anything threatening me.

How much more solid a conviction can we have in our Heavenly Father’s ability to protect us and make it all better? We do not have to remain in the dark, trembling in fear of what lies in the shadows of our lives. We do not have to face the dark nights alone. Our Father waits to wrap us in His arms, and let all the fear melt away. He wishes to cuddle us up until peace pervades our souls, just like the peace sweeping over a frightened child once he reaches his mother’s side.

Are you frightened or troubled by some shadowy phantom today? Not a boogey  man under the bed, but a marriage that just isn’t clicking, or money problems with no solution in sight, or loneliness, or disappointment or any number of grown up “boogey men” that just won’t go away? Don’t sit in the dark frightened and alone. Take it to your Father in prayer; leave it in His all-powerful hands. Let your sleep be sweet again.

Mastering Misunderstandings

Read 1 Samuel 1:1-18

Power verse 18

Our adult Sunday school class has been studying the Old Testament Tabernacle.  Now I will be the first to admit I find Old Testament Judaism to be less than spiritually thrilling.  But our church is blessed to have the kind of Sunday school teacher that can find some pretty profound truths in even the driest of scriptures. Bro: Perry pointed out how we are blessed to have a perfect priest who understands our innermost selves and never misjudges us, and yet often our faith is weak, while OT Jews had enough faith to bring their sacrifices to an imperfect priest knowing he was just a man. Despite the anointing, despite the holiness of the Levite priests they were still imperfect men; men who might misjudge you and misunderstand you.   My mind immediately flew to the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter 1. If ever someone was misunderstood surely it was poor Hannah.

In the beginning of chapter one Hannah is depressed. She is fretful v6; she is weeping and not eating v7. Why? She has a longing in her heart that is going unfulfilled, she is being vexed by “an adversary”, and to make matters worse her husband does not take her longing seriously. When she shares with him what is bothering her, his response is less than encouraging: v8 “Why weepest thou…am not I better to thee than ten sons?” Wow! Elkanah, let’s just make this all about you! So Hannah does what all good women should do when they are depressed, she goes to church and prays about it v 10-12.

Here is where Hannah faces one of the worst cases of misunderstandings I’ve ever seen. Her pastor, the priest Eli, watches her pray and because Hannah moves her mouth as she prays silently Eli assumes that she is DRUNK! And tells her so in v 14! I’m trying to imagine how I would have handled my pastor misunderstanding me to such an extent, especially if I were already hurt and depressed. I know for certain I couldn’t have handled it as gracefully as Hannah did! Her meek words in v 15 and 16 break my heart. Perhaps this gracious woman can teach us the way to master misunderstandings.

1. She did not retaliate! Even though surely such an accusation must have hurt her already bruised emotions, she did not throw back an insult. She probably could have said some pretty cutting things about Eli and his rebellious sons. Chapter 3 tells all about Eli’s shortcomings as a father and priest, but Hannah took the high road, and in chapter 3 God let’s her son Samuel do the rebuking instead.
2. She tried to see the misunderstanding from Eli’s point of view. V 16 she says, “Count not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial”. Surely Eli saw many of these daughters of Belial around as this was a popular false religion of the time. Perhaps Hannah herself had seen these intoxicated women about. Perhaps there were similarities in their behavior to that of someone who was beside themselves with grief, muttering unintelligibly in prayer such as Hannah was. Hannah made an effort to at least try to see where the misunderstanding was coming from.
3. She did not let the misunderstanding squash her dreams. Depending on a person’s disposition there is usually one of two reactions to misunderstandings. If you are high strung or a little defensive then a misunderstanding can bring out a fighting spirit in you. But if you are more passive and more prone to “giving in” then a misunderstanding can have an opposite, more damaging effect. Because people do not understand your dream, or your intentions, you simply give up on them, assuming that the other person is right to criticize you. It was a stupid idea to begin with. I think this is the worst reaction of all to a misunderstanding. Because over time you begin to doubt yourself on a very deep level. You begin to believe every negative thing that any unkind person may say or insinuate about you, and eventually your ambition and motivation shrivels up. That is not Christ like. Hannah knew that her desire was a godly one, and she was not about to give up on it, even if her adversary mocked her, even if her husband belittled her, even if her pastor completely misunderstood her. Misunderstandings changed her intentions none at all!
4. She did not hold a grudge. V 18 she says to Eli “Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.” Wow! What a lovely, forgiving spirit. The latter part of v 18 shows us the fruit of a forgiving spirit “So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” Joy was the fruit of her spirit!

In the end Hannah received so much more than she asked for. Not only did she get her longed for baby, but her son, Samuel, grew up to be one of the most powerful figures in Jewish history!  Have you handled past misunderstandings all wrong? Are you in the midst of a misunderstanding with someone today? Let’s take Hannah’s lessons to heart so that we can come out victorious as she did. 1 Samuel chapter 2 is a beautiful, poetic prayer that Hannah prayed when she came out on the other side of her misunderstanding. I pray the Lord will allow us all such grace.

Satisfaction VS. Contentment

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Power Verse: v.6

I was recently asked, “Are you satisfied with the way things are?” I had no idea how to answer such a huge, vague question. When I hear the word “satisfied” I immediately think of how we all probably felt yesterday evening, right after Thanksgiving dinner. Webster’s 1828 defines it this way: “satisfy- to gratify wants, wishes or desires to the full extent, to supply possessions or enjoyment till no more can be desired.” Till no more can be desired? How many of us reached a point yesterday when we knew we could not eat another bite? You eventually shoveled in that last bite of pumpkin pie (or Seven-Up Punch Bowl Cake, OMG!) and suddenly you desired no more. But let’s think about at what point satisfaction is acquired. At most Thanksgiving dinners yesterday the order of events went something like this: someone asked the blessing, you got a plate and then you take a look at everything spread before you. You had plenty of options and free choice to get whatever you wanted and as much of it as you wanted. And that’s exactly what you did. You piled up your plate with anything you chose and then you ate it. Maybe you went back for seconds and that was just fine. That’s Thanksgiving. Then you headed back for dessert. Plenty of options again and freedom to take all you want and as much as you want. Then at last, you attained that magical state: satisfaction. You gave yourself everything you wanted until you could want no more: satisfaction. That’s pretty easy to attain on Thanksgiving. But can we really attain that in life? Are you satisfied with your life? I’m not sure. Is that even possible? Could I give myself everything I want until I can want no more? Could any of us do that, and not wind up in jail eventually? Satisfaction would be a dangerous thing to attempt and more importantly a sinful thing to attempt for Christians. That is why the word satisfaction was not used in 1 Timothy 6:6, but rather Paul used a very different word: contentment. Contentment is a different word, and an entirely different concept. “Content: rest or quietness of mind in the present conditions, restraining complaint, opposition, or FURTHER DESIRE!” Restraining further desire!!!!! Not fulfilling our further desire? Really? But isn’t that what everyone keeps telling us we deserve? Don’t we all deserve to have everything our selfish, silly, human brains can fabricate? The apostle Paul had no home, wife or possessions. He traveled around entirely dependent on the charity of the churches he ministered to. And yet this man, this traveling, homeless, celibate preacher says in Philippians 4:11 “…for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.” Do you really think Paul had everything he had ever desired? NO! But at some point he learned to start restraining his desires and he continued restraining those desires until there was an equality, a balance between what he desired and what God was going to allow him to have. And right there, right in the center when the balance has leveled out (in Paul’s life and in ours) is the magical state of: not satisfaction, but something much more profound: contentment, rest, peace.  So what is the answer to the question I was asked?  “Are you satisfied with the way things are?” Uh….no! Are you? Have you gotten everything you ever wanted in life until you could want no more? I doubt we’ve gotten everything we wanted even this morning! A far more important, and spiritual, question is this: Are you CONTENT with the way things are?  Because as most of us found out about midnight last night, (especially those who ate Misty’s ninja dressing) getting everything you want isn’t always good for you in the long run.