In spirituality and psychology, the house is a powerful symbol that represents the individual “self” . . . it represents us as individuals. Using the “house” as an archetype or symbol, spiritual directors and counselors have often ask people to draw a their house as they see. From these drawings the spiritual directors and counselors can determine a lot about how people see themselves. If someone draws a dumpy, downtrodden house . . . well, he or she probably does not see him or herself in a good light. Those who draw a fancy, well-kept mansion . . . they probably see and think of themselves quite highly. The condition says a lot about the individual who is drawing it when it comes to their lives . . . especially when it comes to the spiritual and psychological.
This is good to know with the scripture reading we have had this morning. In this reading, the Apostle Paul makes reference to dwellings . . . to houses . . . as he speaks about the life of faith. Paul writes: “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
There are a lot of levels that we can interpret what the apostle means by the word “house”. There is the literal interpretation that he is referring to an actual house waiting for us once our earthly journey is over. That would be an acceptable meaning for the word. It could also mean that spiritual or psychological dwelling of a person . . . something not made of brick and mortar. I think that it is to this “house” that the apostle is referring to.
And, it is to this “house” that the apostle is telling us to get it in order.
The problem with this is that as human beings we have a pretty literal, concrete, finite way of looking at the world and ourselves. There is a little streak of Missouri’s “show me” attitude that runs through us. Yet, what the apostle calls us to is nothing like that. He writes: “So we focus our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” It is the unseen that we are dealing with, besides, argues the apostle: “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Nothing lasts forever. All physical matter breaks down. It is a law of science . . . it is a fact of life. The Bible tells us that it is from the earth that we were created and it is back to earth we will go. All things break down. That is just the way that life is. Think about it . . . who among us is still driving the first car we ever owned? And, if you are, is it really the exact same car you bought? The same parts and tires? I doubt it.
Only one thing lasts for forever . . . one’s faith in God . . . one’s relationship with God . . . that is the “house” that we are called upon to strive for in our life times. That is the “house” that we are to get in order. If one has such a faith, one does not need to worry because in the end it will be there.
So, how is the ol’ house?
How is your spiritual life? Your relationship with God?
Does it need a little work?
I think that I can safely say that “house work” is never done. Not in the houses in which we live, nor in the houses of our spiritual selves. It is a constant in our lives . . . it is the purpose of our journey . . . to constantly be working on our relationship with God and others. We are constantly getting our houses in order.
I think that Jesus shows us some powerful tools for getting our houses in order. Through the words that he spoke, but more importantly through the actions that he took . . . Jesus shows us the way. Central to that is accepting the invitation to be in relationship with God . . . accepting the fact that we are in a relationship with God . . . and, then living up to what that relationship means to us as individuals and how it is played out in the world in which we live. The fact is, we are in a relationship with God. the question is whether or not we have accepted that reality. When we have, then the goal is in building that relationship.
That relationship is built two ways. The first way is through prayer . . . through conversation with God. Note that I said conversation. In a conversation there is the talking and the listening . . . it take both for a conversation to take place. And, of the two, I would say that listening is more important than talking when it comes to God. Someone once told me that God blessed us with two ears and one mouth--which do you think God considers more important? We need to listen twice as much as we talk when it comes to prayer . . . it is in the listening that we discover the answers. Remember, Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer.
The relationship is also built in action. It is built in how we live out that intimate spiritual connection that we have with God in our lives. Are we doing God’s will? Are we loving others? Are we seeking peace . . . justice? Are we feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the imprisoned? We love the way that we are loved. There is no better witness to a relationship than how it is played out in our daily lives.
That is how work on getting our house in order.
Now, I know what you are thinking . . . who likes “housework”? It ranks
pretty high up there with going to the dentist. But is is necessary . . . necessary for overcoming the difficulty of this journey we call life. Housework must be done. And, not surprisingly, God thought about this too . . . no one likes housework. Because no one likes housework, God gave us a “helper” . . . someone or something to prod us along. That is the role of the Holy Spirit . . . to keep reminding us . . . to prod us . . . and, to give us a swift kick in the ol’ slats when all else fails.
God has given us our “house” and it is up to use to take care of it, to keep it in order, and to keep it clean. Thus we are called into faith . . . into building upon that relationship we have with God, and ultimately allowing that relationship to spill over in how we live with and treat others. That ol’ house that we live in will not always last, but we have the assurance that our eternal house will never go away. To this goal we are to strive as a people of faith. They say that where the heart lies, there is home. May our hearts dwell with God . . . now and forever more. That is what matters in the end. Amen.
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