When sin leaks in
Is the dwelling in which you reside more than just a building? Is it a home? Last week, in Part 1 of this series, I shared about my parents’ house. Empty for more than twenty years, the structure was about to collapse from neglect. I needed to decide—do I try to save it, or let it fall?
For me, this house is more than just a building.
It was a home—where we lived, labored, and loved.
But, the house is in terrible condition. If I’m going to repair it—where do I begin?
The foundation of a building—or our foundation—is the key to stability, preservation, and viability. Without a strong foundation, the house will fall. Without a strong foundation in Jesus Christ, our faith will falter.
So . . . as I mentioned last week, the foundation was where I needed to begin in order to save the house.
Then what? The leaky roof?
What starts as a stain on the ceiling from a minor leak (if there can be such a thing as a minor leak), becomes a disaster if left unchecked. More water flows into the attic, ceilings become wet and moldy, eventually falling into the room below, often accompanied by insulation and residue of varmints we don’t like to think about dwelling in our houses.
Just as water seeps, trickles, or pours in from a leaky roof, sin can flow into our lives like a rushing river, or sneak in with stealth, drop by drop, to cause great destruction.
A roof providing protection for our home is a lot like the armor God grants for our protection.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11.
A roof is weakened by age, weather (wind, rain, hail, snow), and falling trees. If not maintained properly, a roof becomes vulnerable. Water can leak through the damaged roof, penetrating into the home below.
Our armor of God–His shield of protection for us can be weakened by sin–separation from God. If our relationship with our Father becomes distant–if our worship, Bible study, and prayer life falters, we become vulnerable. The devil lurks about—looking for a weak spot, a place to infiltrate and separate us from our Father. Just as rainwater finds an opening in a deteriorating roof, the devil seeks an open passage to allow sin to enter us.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Just as we repair our roofs and protect our homes through regular maintenance, we must protect ourselves from the devil’s schemes by regular maintenance of our relationship with our Father. While this doesn’t require us to be coated with metal or have shingles hammered onto our heads, it does involve an active prayer life, Bible study, meditation, and fellowship with believers. Our Father provides protection from sin leaking in—and answers our call for help if the devil’s darts penetrate our armor.
Can you share a time when God protected you, even as the devil threatened to pierce your armor?
God is with us every step of the journey.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Blog Series: More than a building
Part 1: Our foundation
Katherine, I love your analogy and the strong points you make about our foundation and relationship with God. My favorite sentence is “Our Father provides protection from sin leaking in—and answers our call for help if the devil’s darts penetrate our armor.” When I become anxious, it seems negative thoughts multiply. When I remember to pray and focus on Scripture, God strengthens me and reminds me I can trust Him. I’m looking forward to your next post.
Jeannie, you have reminded me what I need to improve on. When I get the very first tingle of anxiety, fear, or doubt, that is when I need to stop, pray, focus on scripture to get my mind off the anxious thoughts and on to what is important–trusting God. Thanks so much for sharing your insight.
Great truths across the board Ms. Katherine; and what a great analogy between leaky roofs and lacking spiritual life! Well done author! There’s been times in my life when it has felt like the spiritual roof blew off of my house of faith. Sin, troubles, and temptations came pouring in. What I’ve come to realize in the decades since is that my roof didn’t blow off, it imploded from my unwillingness to let go of my worldly desires and selfish pride. I thank God daily that he chose to rescue me just like you’ve chosen to rescue your family home. Praying for great workers and even better prices. God’s blessings ma’am as you take on yet another transformation project.
Speaking of analogies, my friend, yours is an arrow of truth. I confess that there have been many times when my “roof” has imploded, too–for those same reasons–pride, worldy desires, and selfishness. I too, thank my merciful and forgiving Father for never giving up on me. Thank you for your prayers, both for the transformation of my family home and my continued transfomation into the child of God He means for me to be. It’s an ongoing journey!
As we are God’s building, the house analogy gives a a perfect picture of how we need to preserve our lives. Daily maintenance in the word protects our souls from decay. A house needs people to live in it, and our souls need Christ living within to keep us from falling apart.
Your comparison is right on target, Barbara. An empty house declines so rapidly, attacked from all directions–weather, neglect, unwelcome varmints moving in, etc. The same thing happens when we neglect our relationship with our Lord and Savior–unwelcome sin invades with no mercy. And, it is even worse when we close God out of our house, and our heart and soul are empty of His presence. Then our house, our temple of the Holy Spirit, collapses. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Katherine, I love how you’re taking us through this process and showing parallels within ourselves. “Just as water seeps, trickles, or pours in from a leaky roof, sin can flow into our lives like a rushing river, or sneak in with stealth, drop by drop, to cause great destruction.” There is such truth in that! The changes/distractions/sins can be so small that we don’t take notice of them. If that continues, they can grow into something out of control. Only God can help protect us from that.
I also love how the comments from other readers are giving me even more to consider! From Mr. J.D.: “What I’ve come to realize in the decades since is that my roof didn’t blow off, it imploded from my unwillingness to let go of my worldly desires and selfish pride.” It’s so easy to blame everyone but ourselves when something goes wrong. But at some point we have to be accountable and ask God to help us move on from there.
Leigh, I also learn so much from comments others share. Their wisdom and insight goes so much further than mine. Aren’t we so blessed when the fellowship of believers surrounds us, share the Good News of Jesus with us, and mentor us along the path of our journey?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. Your comment: “It’s so easy to blame everyone but ourselves when something goes wrong. But at some point we have to be accountable and ask God to help us move on from there.” Oh, my, goodness! Such truth and right on target for me. I expect it will hit the bullseye for others, too. Wishing you a blessed day and continued blessings for your ministry.
Katherine, I live the analogies you’re making. Protection and accompaniment both found in homes and in the armor of God. Thanks for presenting this as visuals to remember fir comfort and courage.
Thank you for your encouragement and prayers, Marilyn. I know that you understand the fear and anxiety that sets in when certain layers of our protection are gone. That makes God’s love and protection all the more vital. I’m grateful for your ministry of hope.
Oh the damage unchecked sin can do in people’s lives. As you point out the need for a sure foundation, we need protection from outside forces with load baring walls and a leak-proof roof.
He offers all of our foundational and structural needs when we follow His building codes and use His material.
What a good visual and spiritual take je message!
Ben, your engineering and building expertise skills are showing through. Following those building codes…When we have to do that, we usually whine and complain. When we don’t follow those building codes, we often get in trouble. But when we follow God’s building codes, oh, my, how His blessings pour down on us! Thank you for sharing.
Great analogies Katherine! My husband does a lot of construction work, and some of these parallels have spoken to my heart at times. You put words to some of those thoughts. Thank you.
I’m sure your husband could come up with a lot more analogies that connect building construction and maintenance and our faith journey. Although I’m not experienced in construction, I expect I’ll learn a lot more as I continue this project. Thank you for your encouragement, Sylvia.
The roof over our head protects us from harm just as the armor of God protects us. I like this comparison. And its caveat: both require regular maintenance. That’s true of all buildings and all souls.
Buildings and souls need maintenance–I agree, Candyce. I pray that we strive, not only to maintain our own faith journey, drawing ever nearer to our Lord, but that we guide and mentor others as they build a strong foundation in Christ and continue to grow in faith, constructing a strong armor of God.
Nothing like weak spots in our spiritual life to draw the attention of the Enemy! I appreciated your thoughts here: “Just as water seeps, trickles, or pours in from a leaky roof, sin can flow into our lives like a rushing river, or sneak in with stealth, drop by drop, to cause great destruction.
A roof providing protection for our home is a lot like the armor God grants for our protection.”
God bless your on-going effort to restore this house and may he continue to teach you along the way.
Thank you for your encouraging message, Mary. Sometimes I look at the house and I say, “I can’t do this.”
But then, God whispers, “Yes, you can.”
I know I will learn many valuable lessons on this journey, but perhaps the most important one is the changes the Master Builder will make in my own heart. And with His guidance, perhaps I can share His love with others through my writing. Wishing you continued blessings in your ministry, my friend.
It’s so true, that like a house we must maintain our close relationship with the Father to be able to resist the leaking into our lives of sin! such a good lesson from this old house. and I’m anxious to find out what your decision will be about it! We had an old house once (100+ years old) and we worked hard to restore it as it had been neglected and empty. We no longer own it, but those who bought it when we moved away have taken good care of it!
I know you are happy that those who purchased your refurbished house have taken good care of it. So much HARD work and love go into the remodeling of a home–especially if the house is in terrible condition when you began. When we stop and think about it, everything we do requires maintenance–not just our relationship with God and our homes, but our families, our jobs, our service, etc. Looks like we would have so much practice that it would be easy by now, but we know maintaining anything requires commitment, consistency, and perseverance. Above all we need God’s guidance–we are blessed that He is right with us on the journey.
So glad your family trip and celebration went well. Welcome home!
What a poignant analogy. I went back to read the foundation blog so I have the full picture. Your points are excellent, and my imagination carried it even further, to consider whether my foundation and roof are truly weatherproof or if I am satisfied with just making them appear to be so. I remember painting over a cracked foundation many years ago, trying to beautify our tiny house before putting it up for sale. Looking back, I didn’t know what I was doing or I might have at least filled the cracks in. Like J.D., I’m so grateful that the Lord has chosen to rescue me and open my eyes. He shows me again and again where the sin is leaking and I’m seeing this continual maintenance as a significant, vital aspect of our landlord/tenant relationship. I look forward to reading further about your endeavours to save this house of your childhood.
Continual maintenance…I think that’s what we often overlook–both in our home care and our relationship with our heavenly Father. We don’t mean to distant ourselves from Him, but it happens as trials, challenges, busy-ness, and sin creep in. Much like neglect allows all sorts of damage to occur to our homes. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Rosemarie, and sharing your insight. Wishing you a blessed week.