Clean House

“Out with the old, in with the new,” is a phrase you may often hear this time of year. It may be used in a material sense, as in getting rid of old items to make room for the new ones that came with the holiday gift-getting. Or, the term may be used spiritually, as in getting rid of old habits to take on newer, healthier ways of living. Either way, “out with the old and in with the new” is the first start to cleaning house.

There is a show on the Style cable network called “Clean House.” On the program, people who are trapped in a lifestyle of clutter are given an opportunity to change their lives. The Clean House crew arrives to help the residents sort through the chaos of knick-knacks, dirty clothes, and whatnot that they have been living in. This includes a heart-to-heart talk to understand when the chaos began—which is usually after some traumatic life event, such as the death of a loved one. After a yard sale, some new furniture, and a fresh coat of paint, the residents return home to find everything clean and uncluttered. And they promise to lead a life that will sustain their clutter free, clean house.

At this time of year, you may hear folks make the resolution to clean up their act, or get their house in order for 2010. If the pledge is sincere, the result can be life-altering. In 2 Kings 20:1, King Hezekiah was told to get his house in order (or clean house) by Isaiah, a prophet of the Lord. Isaiah went further to explain that Hezekiah was going to die. However, the king wept so bitterly that God sent Isaiah with a new message—that He would add 15 years to Hezekiah’s life. God honored Hezekiah’s tears and had mercy on him.

Let’s get serious about cleaning up this year. Whether it’s a material or a spiritual matter, I’m ready to clean house and get on with better living!