The Blessing of a Good Ol' Fashioned Scrubbing

[Keith]

I did something today that needed to be done, was long overdue, and something that I don't particularly enjoy. I scrubbed my kitchen floor and entry way on my hands and knees. How many of us can say that we enjoy doing that? Well, I didn't enjoy it but I sure was blessed by it because the Lord was right there, scrubbing along side me and teaching me. Here's what happened...

My floor was long overdue for a mopping. So much so that a mop wasn't going to cut it. You know how linoleum gets when you walk around in your stocking/bare feet and the dirt gets ground in? Well, a good mopping regularly will make the task shorter and easier. When you let it go, it's going to take some elbow grease!

I filled a bucket with hot water and Pine Sol, grabbed my scrubbing sponge, a towel and looked at the floor. "I really don't want to do this right now but it needs to be done. Putting it off longer will just make it worse," I thought. I moved everything off the floor so I didn't have to scrub around anything. (The garbage can, a cart, a rug and my water cooler.) I dipped the sponge in the cleaning solution and started scrubbing. It wasn't working. I waited too long and now I was going to have to saturate the floor and let it soak for awhile first. More time.

After a good soaking, I picked up the sponge and started scrubbing. The dirt practically wiped away! There were some stubborn spots where I had to really scrub to get it clean. Especially by the stove. A couple of times, as I was scrubbing, my hand slid into the bottom corner of the stove and cut my hand. It bled. Nothing terrible, but it stung a bit.

As soon as I was done scrubbing, I mopped up the dirty water with my towel. When that was done, I took a clean towel and some clean water and rinsed the floor. It was done! Relief!

"Ah, nuts, I forgot about the entry way! With determination I repeated the process (without getting cut). Remove obstacles, soak, scrub, rinse, wipe, done! Finished! It's clean! What a great feeling! No more embarrassment when company drops by unannounced! "Welcome! Come on in," I can say with peace and confidence!

Why on earth am I telling you about my floor scrubbing and in such detail?! Thanks for asking! The following is what the Lord impressed upon me during this time...

Our lives can be like a linoleum floor. We go about our business, dragging dirt (sin) onto the floor (into our lives). We, like the floor, need regular washing to stay clean and manageable. (To manage the sin in our lives.) If we let it go too long or put it off until we feel like doing it, we won't feel like doing it at all. And it can be embarrassing. So much has piled-up that it's going to take a good scrubbing to get clean again. By removing the obstacles in our lives (the water cooler, garbage can, etc.,) we can access the entire area that needs to be scrubbed. Take away your excuses, your justifications and your reasonings and face the task at hand. If we do, there's nothing for the dirt (sin) to hide under or behind.

The water is the Word and the Pine Sol (forgive the commonness of this analogy) is Jesus. If we soak in the Word and spend time in His presence, it's easier to wipe away our sin. If we try to scrub away our sins without soaking in the Word and spending time in His presence, we'll work through our own efforts to scrub away the sin. It can't be done that way. We need the water and the Pine Sol. There are stubborn stains (sins) in our lives, too. Perhaps those things that we struggle with in secret. We need extra time in the Word and in His presence for those. We have to concentrate on those stains and let the water and Pine Sol (the Word and Jesus) do the work.

I had to concentrate while I wash scrubbing because it was a big mess. The cleaning solution splashed up on the carpeting a few times in different areas. I had to pay attention to what I was doing. It's the same with repenting and being cleansed from our sins. We need to really think about what we're repenting from. When I cut my finger, the Lord prompted that it was like times that I cut other people, with my carelessness, words, actions...sins. When we cut other people, (sin against them), they bleed. Maybe not literally, but our sins affect others (even the private ones) and they can sting.

Oh no! I forgot about the entry way! More floor to scrub! We must remember to examine every area of our lives to make sure we haven't forgotten or overlooked anything that needs a good cleaning! Determined to have my house (myself) completely clean, I started the process over on the little area that I had forgotten.

By now my arms and my knees ached. Linoleum isn't soft! But neither is our sin. Jesus ached on the cross for us. He took all of mankind's sins and scrubbed, sweat, cried and bled so that we could be clean and have a fresh start!

When the hard part was over, I still had to rinse and wipe the floor. I felt great that the hardest part was over with. Rinsing and wiping were easy because I was so glad to have gotten through the hard part. I had worship music on and was singing with it. "It Is Well With My Soul". What an appropriate song because after the work of repentance comes, the rejoicing comes from being clean once again! It is well with my soul!

We need to repent and be cleansed from our sins often. Regular repenting and mindfulness of staying clean (keeping the floor clean) makes the task "easier" if we stay soaked in the Word and in His Presence. If we neglect these things, and put off repenting, we're going to get awful dirty and not look forward to the scrubbing that will need to be done. It will be harder. But it will have to be done sooner or later. Sooner is always better. If we keep up with regular maintenance and stay clean, we can open our doors to unexpected company (open our lives to others) without shame or embarrassment because when we are forgiven, it's a complete work! We, like my floors, will be clean.

By the way, the cleaning solution that splashed-up onto the carpet? He didn't forget about that. If we soak in the Word, spend time in His presence and let Him work in us, the Cleaning Solution is going to spill over onto others and they will see what He has done. Because it wasn't the floor (us) that spilled over. The Cleaning Solution (Jesus) did! And God will receive the glory!

[Avodah]

Wonderful Keith!!!

[Keith]

Wonderful Keith!!!

Believe me, it's all God. He knows how much I love His parables and He tends to use them a lot with me. Some are meant for me and some are meant for sharing.

[Fiosh]

Wonderful Keith!!!

Believe me, it's all God. He knows how much I love His parables and He tends to use them a lot with me. Some are meant for me and some are meant for sharing.

Great stuff, Keith!

Amazing how much we can learn from a basin and a towel, eh?

[Keith]

Great stuff, Keith!

Amazing how much we can learn from a basin and a towel, eh?

Ooh! I like that! Definitely gives added meaning to this thread!!! Thanks Fiosh!!