God’s Grace
It's almost springtime in North America. Traditionally it's the time of year that we are tired of being indoors, tired of dust and darkness and ready—more than ready—for clean, bright, fresh outdoors and indoors. It's the time for spring cleaning.
Interestingly, this time of year corresponds to the yearly festival of the Jewish nation called the Passover. This important feast commemorated the deliverance of the Israelite nation from Egyptian bondage; their opportunity to be free to follow God's leading and accomplish His purposes.
“And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it . . . . And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover” (Exodus 12:8, 11).
The Passover Feast was usually preceded by a thorough cleansing of the homes to make sure that there was no yeast, no leaven, found within its borders. Yeast typified sin and in order for the nation to partake of the Feast of Passover, directly followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, specific preparations were to be made.
“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel” (Exodus 12:15).
I do not know for sure, but I am thinking that the concept of “spring cleaning” started there. I love this act of going through every nook and cranny of the home, cleaning thoroughly, sorting each box and drawer, choosing what is important to keep, purging that which is not. It is a symbol to me of the process of sanctification which God is taking us through if we are His children.
Paul spoke of this symbolism when he explained: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6–8).
The feasts were a time of commitment, of obedience to God's instructions, a time of instruction regarding the great truths of the plan of redemption. They were the visual object lesson to lead to Christ.
Let's go back to the “spring cleaning” concept: As I have been sorting and purging, I have been asking the Lord, “how much,” “how important is order,” “where is the balance?” He has taken my mind to a few places that I would like to share:
The first thought was how much order is important. The more we look into the creation of God, the more detail and the more order we see. It is His very nature. God is a God of order.
Where is the balance? Should I spend all of my time and thought upon organization?
No. The Lord in His great mercy and knowledge has given us principles in His Word that help us to prioritize responsibilities and time. We are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
The Lord's messenger was given a vision known as “Traveling the Narrow Way,” found in the book Life Sketches , chapter 30. This vision gives us a picture of the process through which God will take His faithful. It's worthwhile to study the entire vision, of course, but let us consider a few points:
“While at the Battle Creek in August, 1868, I dreamed of being with a large body of people. A portion of this assembly started out prepared to journey. We had heavily loaded wagons. As we journeyed, the road seemed to ascend. On one side of this road was a deep precipice; on the other was a high, smooth, white wall, like the hard finish upon plastered rooms.” 1
Notice that there was a large group of people but only a portion that started out prepared. They had heavily loaded wagons. What were the wagons loaded with? When people of that time went on a journey with wagons, they carried the things that they felt were necessary to have with them. They would have things to cook with, sleep with, clothe with, and shelter with—plus maybe even some extras. They took with them all the things that they thought they needed. The journey was upwards or directly downwards. If they slipped off of the path, there was no return. Let's read on:
“As we journeyed on, the road grew narrower and steeper. In some places it seemed so very narrow that we concluded that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback.” 2
I find this very interesting. The way grew more difficult and narrow, impeding their ability to take all their stuff along. The wagons had to be left behind and even some of the “stuff.” They reloaded the most important “things” onto their horses and journeyed onwards.
“As we progressed, the path still continued to grow narrow. We were obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the steep precipice. As we did this, the luggage on the horses pressed against the wall, and caused us to sway toward the precipice. We feared that we should fall, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks. We then cut the luggage from the horses, and it fell over the precipice. We continued on horseback, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance, and fall. At such times, a hand seemed to take the bridle, and guide us over the perilous way.” 3
I see a great lesson here. Even the most important “stuff” was in danger of causing them to slip over the precipice. A decision had to be made. Would the risk be taken, or would the “stuff” be forsaken? This reminds me of the instruction that Jesus has given us: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
Most of us live in a world and nation that is consumed with the accumulation of things. We want and work for new homes, furniture, cars, trucks, clothing, dishes, entertainments, recreations, possessions of this world. We don't even realize how much we really are driven by this, until we think of having to cut it loose one piece at a time.
We can study and talk about the time when there will be such a definite prophetic occurrence, that we will just know that we have to leave the cities, leave our homes, leave our farms, our cars, our closets, maybe even our family, to be led by the hand by holy angels to protected places, and we think it will just happen with no remonstrance on our part. But think about Lot's experience. His wife physically left Sodom when the angel pulled her out by the hand, but she did not really leave that enticing city behind. Her heart was still there. Where are our hearts?
Obviously, Jesus thought this an important subject. He dealt with it in His sermon on the mount, for example:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). He knows that our mind can only be in one place at a time. That's why He continued His instruction:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:24–34).
But it's not just things that are our trouble. It's the busy-ness of life in general. God is calling for a simpler way.
“We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. There are matters that consume time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interests demand the close attention and energy that are so often given to comparatively insignificant things.” 4
“You have cares and burdens to bear in your family that often worry you; but if you do only those things necessary to your temporal comfort and happiness, you will find time to read your Bible with prayerful interest and to perfect a Christian character.” 5
“Overwork sometimes causes a loss of self-control. But the Lord never compels hurried, complicated movements. Many gather to themselves burdens that the merciful heavenly Father did not place on them. Duties He never designed them to perform chase one another wildly. God desires us to realize that we do not glorify His name when we take so many burdens that we are overtasked and, becoming heart weary and brain weary, chafe and fret and scold. We are to bear only the responsibilities that the Lord gives us, trusting in Him, and thus keeping our hearts pure and sweet and sympathetic.” 6
I have been driven for years to simplify life—and to most people's perspective we do live simply. But the Lord has given me a new thought as I consider what is ahead. Simpler Yet! Why? The Lord's messenger continues with the vision:
“As the path grew more narrow, we decided that we could no longer go with safety on horseback, and we left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another. At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, to aid us in keeping our balance upon the path. As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes; so we slipped them from our feet, and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet.
We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.” 7
We need to not only be willing to suffer hardship and privation, but must also be accustomed to endure hardships. This does not mean making ourselves martyrs, but I think it does mean not to get too comfortable, too secure, too used to conveniences. There is a whole mindset that goes along with “simpler yet.” It means looking at efficient, simple ways of living, of eating, of dressing, of housing, of ministering. It means prioritizing what is the most important in life so that we have the time and mental ability to pray, to study, to wait before God, and then time to work with the people that the Lord has placed in our lives.
Enoch chose a simple lifestyle:
“When we learn to walk by faith and not by feeling, we shall have help from God just when we need it, and His peace will come into our hearts. It was this simple life of obedience and trust that Enoch lived. If we learn this lesson of simple trust, ours may be the testimony that he received, that he pleased God.” 8
Joseph, too.
“How was Joseph enabled to make such a record of firmness of character, uprightness, and wisdom?—In his early years he had consulted duty rather than inclination; and the integrity, the simple trust, the noble nature, of the youth bore fruit in the deeds of the man. A pure and simple life had favored the vigorous development of both physical and intellectual powers. Communion with God through His works and the contemplation of the grand truths entrusted to the inheritors of faith had elevated and ennobled his spiritual nature, broadening and strengthening the mind as no other study could do. Faithful attention to duty in every station, from the lowliest to the most exalted, had been training every power for its highest service. He who lives in accordance with the Creator's will is securing to himself the truest and noblest development of character.” 9
I have noticed that the more we have to do, the more things we have to care for, the less time we have to do the best things well. Personally, I have downscaled; not the size of our home, since we have not moved, but the size of my “to do list,” the size of my chores, the size of my menu, the size of my wardrobe.
I am seeking to implement the following counsel. What about you?
“Should we dress in plain, modest apparel without reference to the fashions; should our tables at all times be set with simple, healthful food, avoiding all luxuries, all extravagance; should our houses be built with becoming plainness, and furnished in the same manner, it would show the sanctifying power of the truth, and would have a telling influence upon unbelievers. But while we conform to the world in these matters, in some cases apparently seeking to excel worldlings in fanciful arrangement, the preaching of the truth will have but little or no effect. Who will believe the solemn truth for this time, when those who already profess to believe it contradict their faith by their works? It is not God who has closed the windows of heaven to us, but it is our own conformity to the customs and practices of the world.
“It was by a miracle of divine power that Christ fed the multitude; yet how humble was the fare provided—only the fishes and barley loaves that were the daily fare of the fisherfolk of Galilee.
“Christ could have spread for the people a rich repast, but food prepared merely for the gratification of appetite would have conveyed no lesson for their good. Through this miracle Christ desired to teach a lesson of simplicity. If men today were simple in their habits, living in harmony with nature's laws, as did Adam and Eve in the beginning, there would be an abundant supply for the needs of the human family. But selfishness and the indulgence of appetite have brought sin and misery, from excess on the one hand, and from want on the other.” 10
“Puritan plainness and simplicity should mark the dwellings and apparel of all who believe the solemn truths for this time. All means needlessly expended in dress or in the adorning of our houses is a waste of our Lord's money. It is defrauding the cause of God for the gratification of pride.” 11
I have simplified life and it feels good. It is simpler yet. As I keep asking the Lord to direct my steps, more goods are taken off of the “horse” and more attention can be given to moving forward and holding onto the cords—for we don't have enough hands to carry baggage and suspend our whole weight upon those means given us to be saved.
Do not resent the Lord's gracious weaning in our lives. Rejoice that life can be better yet, as it is simpler yet. God will bless you.