From time to time, people engage in a cleansing program that leads to a transformative journey. If we are going to be useful for ourselves, our family, and our community, then we need to purge ourselves. Purging is a wise thing to do to help our bodies function and to benefit all around us. Purging is a journey that begins within our body, cleansing our vital organs and preparing us to function at our maximum. When we take the pain to detox ourselves, we discover the joy of great energy, sound sleep, chronic pains disappear, and we are a better person. Our health overall will be excellent.
In the same vein, have we ever considered how to detox ourselves spiritually? Are we taking our spiritual life seriously? Are we aware of the benefits of our spiritual health? The Bible gave us some descriptions that should prompt us to think seriously about the importance of spiritual detox.
“In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work.”2 Tim. 2: 20-21.
In the above passage, the Bible uses the metaphor of a big house that has two kinds of people, those who are precious and those who are not. These two categories of people are used for either honorable or dishonorable purposes. The category you fall into will be determined by how often you cleanse yourself. So many times, as Christians, we want to put on a show that we are good. We specialize in washing the outside, and we neglect the inside. This does not work in our physical life; how do we think it will work in the spiritual? If we detoxify our physical bodies by abstaining from harmful foods, we must also do the same in our spiritual lives. We all aspire to be gold and silver because both are valuable.
Who are the gold and silver in the big house? In the church, as we have those who are serious about their relationship with God and strive to grow daily in their walk with God, we also have the wood and the clay who are nonchalant towards the things of God.
- The gold and silver are those spiritually fit for the LORD’s use in the Church. These are the people who have been cleansed from dishonorable behavior. These are the people who say no to ungodliness. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12.
We maximize our usefulness in the Hands of God by refraining from destructive habits.
- Guard your heart. The Bible says,
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” – Proverbs 4:23.
Our heart, that is our soul, which comprises our emotions, mind, and will, must be cleansed to keep us connected to the Spirit of God. Our desires and cravings must constantly be under the radar of the Word of God. The Word of God is the detergent that cleanses our hearts of all impurities. Just as our desire to stay healthy prompts us to cut sugar and processed food, which we naturally crave, we must also eliminate every toxin from our souls through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Who are the wood and clay?
The wood and the clay are those who have abandoned their faith or are false believers. They appear religious and zealous, yet they have not participated in a cleansing program that fosters a transformative journey. The Word of God has not cleansed them, so they contaminate others, are false, and cancerous. The Bible describes these people with the following verses,
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:2-5
The Word of God possesses transformative properties that can cleanse and renew hearts of wood and clay, transforming them into gold and silver. Our daily shower is the reading of the Word of God, which will eliminate any harmful habits that hinder us from being instruments for special purposes, functional for the LORD. By embracing the Word of God, we open ourselves to proper spiritual growth and fulfillment. This will lead to our willingness to purge ourselves from every toxicity.
In conclusion, let us endeavor to work on ourselves by abstaining from destructive habits, which are harmful to our spiritual health. We do not have to remain unproductive for our LORD. The Bible says, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1.
Let us be ready to please the LORD by cleansing ourselves with the Word of God.