BRUSH

There is no broom to sweep the dirt of cares from the soul. Or so it seems at times. We are admonished not to worry or fret by scripture, but admittedly that is very difficult to do at times.

In those desperate occasions of struggle and risk, faith can be the stabilizing means to any form of brush that can cleanse us in part of the dust of worries. But it is more being able to trust in the Holy Spirit's cleansing that brings any sense of being purged.

However, like with any type of sweeping, it never works to do it just once. It is a ritual practice that must be done over and over and over.

That is perhaps part of the difficulty that arises for some in this situation. It is so natural to want something to be permanent. We want to learn a lesson and move on. Having to repeat the same mistake or crisis can be so disheartening.

Yet it is also essential to our maturity that we learn the truth of how immature we really are at times. I didn't say that we enjoyed such lessons, only that we do have to learn them.

God in his wisdom will test us in that regard. And I know from my personal experience that no matter how much I have learned from the past it doesn't keep the future from rising up the same challenges.

There are some that want to believe you reach a point in life where you can avoid such crisis. They want to think that blessings by God means a life without problems.

Some flock to churches that teach such doctrines. They are so desperate to purge their life of its burdens that they will eagerly accept any brush somebody offers even if it is broken or doesn't work.

The reality is life never as a rule reaches a point without it being life. This is not, nor will it be a form of heaven as long as sin and Satan are part of reality.

Knowing this doesn't have to be depressing. It can be a time of hope and promise. A chance to trust the Lord and know it will mean new challenges will come and often they will be even more demanding than the past.

So rejoice when the brush comes that gives any temporary cleansing. It is a repository of temporary cleaning, but the true brush will only be available at Heaven's throne of grace.

We celebrate our faith with obedience not with indifference or assuming we can obtain paradise in this temporary condition. Live the dream of knowing eternity is yet to come. Smile in the warm of affection that God truly knows our pain and suffering and will reward those according for their deeds both good and bad. May we not be among those with more bad deeds than good ones that come through faith.