Windows
May 21, 2008
By Greg Ebie
We sat at McDonald’s and watched a crewmember wash the
windows.
“Now there’s a guy with job security!” I said. “With all the
people coming and going, there is no way those windows will stay clean for
long.”
Sure enough, as we walked out, Jacob and I both left our
fingerprints on the glass doors.
The truth of the matter is that if the windows at McDonald’s
or anywhere else are not cleaned, then little by little the clear glass will
cloud over until eventually you would not be able to see out at all.
I remember one April during our family’s spring-cleaning the
difference in the amount of sunlight that came into the house after doing the
windows. A layer of dust had accumulated on the surface of the windows,
gradually blocking some of our view. We didn’t notice the difference until
after the glass was clean; I can only imagine how the windows might have looked
if we had allowed them to continue to cloud over.
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes
wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live
squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the
blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” (Matthew 6:22,23, The
Message).
What is the condition of our “spiritual windows?” Toward
what are we directing our attention? If we have fixed our eyes upon Jesus, then
He will fill our lives with the light of truth through His Word and Spirit
within us. However, the more we let the things of this world capture our
attention the more the light of Christ will be darkened within our hearts.
No, it won’t happen all at once, but little by little the
dirt will coat our “spiritual windows” until eventually the light is gone and
we haven’t even missed it. Let’s make a habit of allowing the Word to penetrate
to our self-serving pride, our wearisome worry and fear, our unconfessed sin
and our burden of guilt along with a host of other dirt and grime (see
Ephesians 5:26).
Keep your spiritual windows clean so you not only can see
clearly, but have light to make your faith grow strong.
— D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of
God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.
