Why do I Need That Junk

I have a drawer that has a lot of…. Junk. I have old cell phones, charging cords, old batteries, paper clips, a ball of string, golf balls, old cd’s, coins, sticky notes, and a bucket full of other things that I apparently want to keep. Do you have a junk drawer? It’s the place where we leave items because it’s easier to throw something in a drawer than it is to put in its proper place. It is the place where we put something when we don’t know where else to put it. Yes it’s a place where we hide stuff because we like to appear neat and orderly on the outside. So, what’s the big deal? Aren’t we all entitled to a place where we allow ourselves to collect clutter? Shouldn’t there be a place where we have the freedom to toss things we don’t want to deal with, get rid of, leave totally unorganized, or maybe even hide things in? Maybe if we leave something in the junk drawer long enough, we will forget about it completely.

The Same Drawer, My Life

Hmm, is this what I do with the “Junk” in my life? I put that junk in a drawer and close it. Then it is hidden… I look clean and orderly on the outside… I can forget about it. The Galatians had a spiritual junk drawer and the Apostle Paul warned them in chapter 5, verses 19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

Heart Cleaning

What is in the junk drawer of your heart? Are you ashamed to open it up? Sins you know and those you do not know are conveniently placed in this drawer and closed. We open the drawer and find that the junk is still there, most of it forgotten about. Jesus is there to help with the junk in our hearts. He can help us with all those things we’ve acquired over time that are stuffed in the depths of our souls that we can’t let go of, don’t know what to do with, are never going to throw away; we are just holding on to. How about we start cleaning out this spiritual junk drawer? Let’s toss those things we have been hiding. Don’t be afraid. God already knows what’s in your heart and He is waiting to help you sort your way through it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Indeed, then as we kneel before God and confess these sins, we know we are forgiven by the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross. God willingly takes this junk we have been collecting. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, Amen.