Spring is almost here (well for some it has been here and for us in South Dakota we are still patiently waiting.) When spring finally hits we often go through what we call Spring cleaning. We go through our house and deep clean and get rid of things we have been saving. After being cooped up in our house all winter it seems that spring cleaning is freeing and we finally can enjoy the weather outside of the house. What does that spring cleaning entail? Usually we break out the mop and the duster and we rid our house of unwanted items that have stockpiled over the long winter. It is a process that may take a couple weeks but often it is much needed.
Spiritually maybe we need to undergo spring cleaning. Maybe there are pet sins in our life we need to get rid of that we have been holding off on. They are stored up in the deep dark crevices of our attic so to speak being left unattended. Maybe we are dusty around the edges and need to be spruced up a bit. Our prayer life has been inconsistent, our personal study has been nonexistent. It needs a little bit of work. Maybe parts of us need a complete remodel. We need to pinpoint that area and with using the necessary resources we need to arrange for the remodel. When it comes to spring cleaning, often people can not wait for it to take place. But when it comes to a spiritual spring cleaning we may avoid it at all costs.
When one becomes a Christian, they are said to be a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17.) While we put off the old man, unfortunately sometimes those things hang around in the background and need to be dealt with.
Many unfortunately have succumbed to the false doctrine of once saved always saved. If you hold to this doctrine this idea of spring cleaning is irrelevant. You do not need to do any sort of spring cleaning because once your saved it no longer matters. But what does the Bible say?
2 Peter 3:17-18 says “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “It is possible when you become a Christian to start off strong and then fall away. Your eternity is not defined by one moment but by the life that you live. That one moment is the start of the race. It is important how you start but its also important how you end and all the events in between.
Hebrews 4:11 says “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” This is a reminder that we can fall away again. Spring cleaning every once in awhile is necessary. While physical spring cleaning may take place once a year, spiritual spring cleaning is an ongoing process that should not wait for the warmth of spring.
Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Faithfulness is essential to salvation and that is a lifelong process. Continual purging of sin and cleaning up. Faithfulness until death is expected of Christians. It is easy for things to get you down and for you to drift away. But if we can stay on top of “spring cleaning” it will hopefully make it less likely to fall away.
Are their things you have been holding onto that you know you need to get rid of? Have the winter blues got to you and you are so ready for the freedom of spring? We hope that you will take these words to heart. We hope you will engage in spiritual spring cleaning and we hope that you will realize the importance of being faithful unto death!