Keep your bathroom clean!

I couldn't think what to blog on when I sat down to write this morning, so I cleaned the bathroom instead. And in doing so, I found the perfect topic to cover. Because to me, cleaning the bathroom and the Christian walk have a lot in common.

I don’t know about you, but I put off cleaning the bathroom. I tell myself I’ll ‘do it tomorrow’; that old chestnut. The more gunk that builds up, the less I want to clean it and the more unpleasant each shower or toilet visit becomes.

A similar thing can happen in our lives. Often when we let sin and worry take over, we inadvertently shut God out of our lives. If we don’t deal with it quickly, the effects can build up and make us feel as though He is far away. This becomes a cycle, because we now feel it will be more difficult to put things right.

So here are a few pointers to encourage and motivate you, both to keep your bathroom clean and to examine any unwanted ‘build-up’ in your heart.

1)    The process is often messy, but the results are satisfying. I can’t pretend I enjoy pulling clumps of hair out of the plug hole or scrubbing the toilet bowl, but when you’re done and you survey your handiwork, there’s a real sense of achievement. Likewise, facing up to the things in your life that you’d rather not have to deal with can be unpleasant, and even painful. But when you allow God to cleanse you of anger, unforgiveness or whatever else is clogging up your heart, the relief is palpable.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

2)    The more frequently you do it, the easier it becomes. If you don’t clean your bathroom for six months, you’re in for some serious grossness! Dirt and dust soon pile up and you’ll scrub for hours just to see what colour your bathroom suite once was if you don’t clean it regularly. Likewise, failure to deal with our issues promptly tends to lead us into further difficulties and away from the help God is offering us. Deal with sin straight away and keep a short account with God – He will wipe the slate clean every day if you ask him to. And please clean your bathroom more than biannually!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

3)    The cleaner it is, the more it will bless others. Have you ever been to someone’s house and found their bathroom to be dirty, lacking in soap and abundant in odours? Public toilets, of course, are the worst offenders. Cleaning your bathroom may seem like a thankless task (your family will never notice), but guests you invite round will notice you’ve made an effort. In the same way, staying close to God will bless the people around you because you are able to demonstrate His love without any obstacles getting in the way. The Bible says that when we walk in the Spirit, we bear fruit. Fruit isn’t meant to be eaten by us (have you ever seen a tree eat its fruit?); it’s there to be enjoyed by others.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

4)    Deep cleaning reveals dirt we’re not even aware of. We can all see the obvious dirt that collects in a bathroom, but you might not immediately see the mould in the corner behind the bin or the dirt that collects between the toilet seat and seat cover (isn’t that the most irritating thing to clean?!). Similarly, when we start to put things right with God, He reveals things that are harbouring in the recesses of our hearts; things we thought we had dealt with or didn’t realise were there in the first place. Be encouraged that the Holy Spirit can reach even the most difficult nooks and crannies of our hearts, leaving us spotlessly clean and ready to bask in God’s presence.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:22-23).

5)    The right resources can make all the difference. Cleaning your bathroom with a dirty, moth-eaten sponge is going to lengthen the process at best, and lead to a botch job at worst. Investing in a few bits and bobs, for example a mildew-removing spray and a decent mop, can make light work of it. As Christians, there are thousands of resources out there. The first of course is the Bible, so if you don’t have one, get one – and read it every day. It’s also worth getting hold of some decent books/DVDs/podcasts to inspire, challenge and encourage you in your Christian walk. If you don’t know where to start, ask someone you trust to recommend a few.

Finally, remember how beautiful it feels to have a shower in a freshly cleaned bathroom? That’s how we can feel spiritually every day when we walk closely with God. Jesus has already paid for our sins and our sickness, so we are free to live a free and fulfilled life each and every day. Don’t put it off!

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). 

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti magazine.