Calcification and Cleansing

January 21, 2024

Our congregation’s building was built in the early 70s. I think I was told 1971 by those that helped with the construction. The two bathrooms including the plumbing, located in the church basement, are both original. Our congregation has had intermittent issues with the bathrooms at least since we arrived in 2014. In late October/early November 2023, these plumbing issues became something we needed professional help to resolve. We had our regular, professional handyman come and run a camera down the plumbing to see where the potential clog was located. What he found was both expected and unexpected.

We expected the pipes to show a high level of calcification due to their age. After all the plumbing is original to the building. It was such an issue that it was difficult to get the camera past the first troubling spot, but this was not the clogged area in question. As they got the camera further down the pipe, what the camera hit was roots. This was completely unexpected since the nearest tree old enough to have roots that size is at the entrance to the church driveway. That’s roughly 250 steps from the door to the building! Our handyman came back the next day to run an industrial-sized sewer snake into the pipes to clear some of the debris and allow the bathrooms to continue to work properly.

Our lives are like those pipes. Sin has in some places calcified our hearts. Unfortunately sometimes the calcification is so bad it hardens us to the point where the good news of the gospel has a difficult time affecting godly behaviors, attitudes, and changes in our lives. In times like this it can be difficult even recognizing the refusal to let Jesus play the “sewer snake” role and remove the blockades sin had put up. The real questions at this point are twofold. Why did we not recognize sin’s buildup? Once sin’s buildup became apparent, did we submit to Jesus’ cleansing or deny the need for cleansing all together?

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).

Jesus pulled no punches when dealing with a person’s reaction to light of God. That being said, have we allowed our lives to become so hardened by sin that we no longer even want to come to the Light to seek His help and guidance? Jesus says that those practicing evil fear coming to the Light lest their deeds are seen too easily by others. On the opposite side, those seeking to practice godliness have no fear of coming to the Light. This is not because these people never sin. They do! Instead those practicing godliness KNOW that Jesus is the only one that can ultimately eliminate sin and its effects in their life. And the ones seeking godliness WANT to be cleansed so they can be more like Jesus.

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10).

Jesus’ mission on earth has long been over. Time has marched on. Yet he only one who can continually cleanse us from sin is the same one that laid His life down nearly two millennia ago only to take it up again three days later—Jesus, the Son of God. The question is whether or not we will be willing to be exposed in His light or continue to hide in the shadows. Only through being exposed in His light can we truly deal with the spiritual calcifications in our hearts. Otherwise our spiritual blockages will continue to worsen to the point of completely hindering the gospel message to flow within our lives.

Transformed Not Conformed- Romans 12

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:1-2

Have Christians been conformed to the world? The people of God are offended at the thought! After all, the church is supposed to be the “pillar and support” of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Do we stand for the truth or have we adopted the world’s outlook? Before simply dismissing the thought, consider this example.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. -Romans 12:16-18

How do we handle disagreements arising within the local congregation? Unity is what is called for. How do we see fellow Christians? Paul says that we should not think too highly of ourselves. How do we treat the poor? Biblically, we should spend time with them. What do we do when people take advantage of us? God tells us not too seek revenge. How do we define “right?” Our definition should be God’s definition. How do we deal with people when problems arise? Peacemakers are called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

Paul calls the church to unity, humility, forgiveness, and peace. The church should aim for these attitudes daily. In contrast, the world has fallen victim to Satan’s reading.

Be of the same mind toward one another as long as everyone agrees with you; humility is for the weak, there is no need to waste your time with the lowly. You are as wise as you think you are. Treat people the way they treat you. Respect those who respect you. If possible, so far as it depends on others, be at peace with all men.* 

Unfortunately, the church often agrees with the world’s selective and alternate reading of Scripture. This conformity needs to stop. It is imperative that we seek to do God’s will in every situation. The beginning of a new year is when people resolve to do better. Christians must decide to be transformed into the living, holy sacrifices God wants us to be. Conformity does not please God. Christ died to free us from the patterns of the world, opening the door for something far better—a peaceful, repaired relationship with God (Ephesians 2:11-16). Let the transformation begin!

-Kevin W. Smith

*Romans 12:16-18 rewritten from Satan’s viewpoint.

Confident Faith- 2 Timothy 1

Life is challenging to say the least. Our courage and even our faith can be rocked when we or those we love are called to suffer for the gospel. However, our confidence in Jesus can serve as a mighty stalwart aiding us whenever struggles come calling. The Apostle Paul confronts this issue in 2 Timothy, beginning with the young evangelist’s roots.

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,  -2 Timothy 1:5-8

When it came to Jesus, Lois and Eunice were apparently confident and convinced. After all, they passed their faith down to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to have this same confidence and faithful conviction by telling him that God has not given His people a spirit of timidity. Paul uses the word δειλια (deilia) which can also be translated “cowardice.” God has not made us cowards, but given us a bold, powerful Spirit to help Christians deal with whatever suffering and challenges surface.

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. -2 Timothy 1:9-10, 12

Paul’s confidence is based on who God is and what He accomplished through Jesus, not on his own ability or standing. After all, he is in a Roman prison as he writes this! For His own purpose, God has granted us grace; His Son has abolished death, illuminated life and offered immortality. Paul wants Timothy to know his confidence is based on Jesus and His competency to safeguard what Paul has entrusted to Him.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  He has not changed since Paul declared confidence in His power and ability. Christians today have the same Spirit of power lodging inside them. We are capable of standing firm in our faith through sufferings and challenges as long as Jesus is the stalwart we are holding on to.