Is There Something Rotten on the Inside?
Over the last few weeks I’ve been taking on a project that’s been on my mind for the last couple years. Initially I thought it would take only a couple of weeks, optimist that I am! I didn’t think that replacing the slats on an upper deck with a solid platform would be too big a project. Little did I know!
As the boards started coming off the deck, I noticed areas in bad shape with rotten wood and peeling paint. That’s when I started getting concerned. Even though the problem had been there for some time; now I knew about it. The more paint that I scraped off the more rot was exposed.
To be honest; I was tempted to paint over the problem and just hide it. It would look good on the outside but it wasn’t solid on the inside. The potential for hurting those I love was great. Replacing the boards would be costly and difficult. It would take removing siding, doors, and inside flooring to expose the 2nd story joists just to get to the problem beams and replace them.
Marriages and life are often like that old deck. A little problem or irritation that bothers us often turns out to have root problems that go much deeper than we expect. Often we are surprised by what we find; life seemed much better before the “rot” was exposed. In reality, the rot has been there a long time. After the first shock, we have choices to make, to hide the problem, or expose it and work through the process of rebuilding.
To fix the deck I have to remove the rotten material, shore up the good, and replace that which was removed with something solid, then protect it all so that it won’t fall into the same disrepair as the first. Are we going to just cover the problem by painting over it or get down to the core and remove the rot, then replace it with something lasting.
What about marriages? Does this mean we throw out the rotten spouse? Many will find counsel that will support that move. God always points us back to focus on areas in ourselves that need work, not on others’ problems. If we want to be totally free, we must face our responsibilities. How we respond will tell a lot about our character. It is humbling to admit our failures when we are still hurting about another’s failures. But when we walk that road with humility and forgiveness we build bridges in relationships. We shore up the foundations. Through prayer, study, and fellowship with godly men and women, we replace the “rot” with solid material, with God’s truth in our lives. As we draw close to God, we have a “protective coating” around us to help us deal with each issue we face in life.
In dealing with the “rot” in our lives we must face the challenge, make the hard decisions, clean up the bad areas and replace it with character that lasts, the character of Christ. And isn’t that what we are called to as Christians, to be conformed to the character of Christ? It is never an easy process but it is the only process that gives us lasting freedom. When the trials come, it’s your choice, paint over it or get the “rot” out. (Galatians 5:1)