April 25th, 2021: Life Flushing

 


So we flushed our hot water tank this weekend. It was something I wanted to do for a long time. It was fun to see how mineral sediments pushed out as we drained the tank. The tank is supposed to last a bit longer if we do that annually. The one thing we know for sure that it is a lot cleaner and more energy-efficient now.


How about our lives? What does it mean for us to be spiritually flushed out? None of us is free from various sinful sediments of life. We slowly collect them over the years in the forms of resentment, jealousy, envy, hate, the callousness of our hearts, indifference, fear, and more. They impact our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being negatively. When that happens, we need spiritual renewal.


Here is a verse about spiritual renewal (the flushing of our lives):

 

Romans 12:2, NIV: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."


Conformity is a great temptation. We want to belong. We like to see ourselves being part of a majority. We might have the desire to be acknowledged and accepted by the world, so we learn to deny God altogether.


Transformation is a painful business because we will need to remove ourselves from where we are and move to where we need to be according to God's desire. We have to turn away from our temptation, preference, comfort, and bias. It is like being in the light after being in the dark for a long time. It can be overwhelming.


Could it be that God wants to go through life flushing with us so we might be more effective as His people?

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