Don’t Put Your Glasses On

Recently I embarked on some spring cleaning, and it involved a small painting task after filling in some hairline cracks around the edge of the lounge ceiling. I put my glasses on to protect my eyes. However, my glasses showed up other things that needed attention, things I simply could not see without them and was surprised to see with them.

I noticed a really big cobweb hanging from the edge of the ceiling right above the sofa. ( I am left wondering how big the spider was and where is it now). And in one of the bedrooms some mould patches had developed around the skirting boards, due to condensation over the winter months. It's surprising how other surfaces that looked really clean without my specs on  looked totally different with them on, as it revealed areas that definitely needed some attention.

In these sort of situations my husband will often say, "Don’t put your glasses on. Then you won't see it". My response is, "well that doesn't make it go away. I need to do something about it".

It made me think about how, in my own personal life, I may fail to notice things that require some attention and need me to do something about them. Perhaps from time to time I need to put my glasses on, not my ready specs or my prescription lenses, but my ‘spiritual  glasses’. I need to take a close look at my life to see where, with God's help, I need to make changes.

I am not suggesting being overly introspective, which can lead to feelings of condemnation. Things I may not notice could include, grudges, unforgiveness, a grumbling or complaining attitude, not being thankful, selfishness, jealous, pride, idolatry, not putting Jesus first and foremost in all I do and say, not showing mercy to others, being impatient or unloving. The list could go on. Maybe now is the time for a  spiritual spring clean, not just a household one, where I  come to God in prayer, humbly asking Him to search my heart and show me areas in my life that are not as they should be.

We have celebrated  Easter fairly recently, and looked afresh at Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection, which paid the price for every single one of our sins and accomplished total victory over all the powers of death and hell. It is wonderful to know that, as we repent and ask God for forgiveness, all our sins are completely forgiven, not because of one single thing we have done to earn forgiveness or salvation, but because of His unfailing love, which is totally beyond our human comprehension.

‘For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no-one can boast’ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).