Renovation: Tear Down Your Walls, So God Can Rebuild

This month my wife and I have been in the process of moving into our new house. After we purchased it, we left it alone for a while before starting any work. When we came back, we noticed that the water valves for the washing machine had been leaking the entire time. At first, it did not seem like a major issue. The wall just looked a little wet, like water had run down the surface. But when I started pulling at the drywall, it fell apart in my hands. Behind it was a thick layer of mold. What looked like a small problem on the outside turned out to be something much worse underneath.

So I cut out the damaged wall, bought the tools I needed, and over the course of three weeks we removed the mold, rebuilt the wall, and replaced the leaking valves. It took time, effort, and patience, but in the end the problem was not just covered up, it was completely dealt with. I could not help but see how this reflects our lives as Christians. On the outside, we can appear fine. Everything may look put together, even healthy. But when we begin to examine our hearts more closely, we often find something deeper, sin that has been growing beneath the surface.

In Gospel of Mark 7:21 to 23, Jesus says, "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Just like the mold behind the wall, sin is not only a surface issue. It begins within us, and if it is left unaddressed, it spreads. Because of this, we cannot simply ignore sin or try to cover it up. It has to be exposed and brought before Jesus. He is the one who cleanses us and makes us new. In the same way that the wall had to be torn out and rebuilt, our hearts must be renewed.

This kind of change does not happen by accident. It requires a relationship with Christ. It requires time in His word, obedience, and a willingness to turn away from what we know is wrong. Scripture gives us a serious warning about this in Epistle to the Hebrews 10:26 to 27, which says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment." This reminds us that following Christ is not just about knowing the truth, it is about living it.

So I encourage you, continue seeking Christ. Spend time in His word. Turn away from sin, even when it is difficult. Give your worries, your decisions, and your struggles to God. He is faithful to transform you. In Romans 12:2 we are reminded, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Just like rebuilding that wall, transformation takes effort and time. There will be challenges, and there will be moments of temptation. But those moments are not the end, they are part of the process. God is not interested in covering up the damage. He is committed to making you new from the inside out.