My Upstairs Cupboard

    As we walked through the house downstairs, I began to notice a faint smell. Going up the stairs, it became stronger, and Jesus said, “Do you notice that horrid smell? What’s in this cupboard, it seems to be stronger here!” I hadn’t intended saying anything to Him about that cupboard. I knew there were things in there that weren’t too good, and I didn’t want Him to know that I was hiding them there. But He had noticed this cupboard, and said, “Something must be dead somewhere. I think it’s in here”. As soon as He said this, I knew what He was talking about. This cupboard, was only a small one, and it was where I put things I hadn’t dealt with. I always kept telling myself that I would clean it out one day, but somehow that day never came. I always made sure the door was kept locked because of these things that I didn’t want anyone else to know about. Certainly, I didn’t want Christ to see them! I knew they were dead and rotting things left over from the old life, but  I wanted to keep them just in case I wanted to look at them again. Things like those pornographic pictures I had downloaded off the computer, and the suggestive jokes that I thought I might need one day. Then there were all the letters about those shady deals I had done some years ago too….I wouldn’t want Jesus to know about them!

He stopped outside the door and the smell got stronger and stronger. He pointed to the door. I was angry. That’s the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, and the living room,  and now He was asking me about a cupboard of all things!

 I thought  to myself, “This is too much. I’m not going to give Him the key. He doesn’t need to know what’s in here!” “Well,” He said, reading my thoughts, “if you think I’m going to stay up here on the second floor with this smell, you are mistaken. I will go down to the porch.” When I saw Him start down the stairs, I remembered the verse that says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”, and I though how awful to be separated from God and not have Him hear my cries for help! (Psalm 66:18)

When one comes to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense Him withdrawing His fellowship. I had to give in. “Alright, I’ll give You the key,” I said sadly, ‘but You will have to open it up and clean it out. I haven’t the strength to do it.”

“Just give it to Me,” He said. “and tell  me to take care of that cupboard  and I will.”     With shaking fingers I passed the key to Him. He took it, and opened the door. The smell that came out was awful! But you know, He took out all the things that were rotting there, and threw them away. After He had cleaned it all out, He painted it. It was  done in  a  moment’s  time. I  remembered  again, how that 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). Oh, what a victory and release to have all that dead stuff out of my life! He is the only One Who can do that for us! I was now able to truly say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” ( 1 Corinthians 15:57)