Recently I was reminded that a couple years ago the drain in our bathroom sink became very slow at discharging water into the sewer. In other words, the water easily pooled and would at best slowly drain. On several occasions I had poured “clogged drain” products such as Drano and Liquid Plumber in the standing water, even using one of the plastic “snake” tools they provided, to try to get the drain to flow more rapid. If you didn’t use much water, as in washing your hands, the water would drain out fairly quick; however, any time you needed to run the water for any length of time, it would quickly pool and the sink would fill; and it would take a while to completely empty. As time went on, though irritated at the slow drain, I at times accepted the slowness in the discharge – partly due to not taking the time to figure out why the problem continued to occur – and as well, not wanting to call a plumber. Finally, I had enough. One evening I removed all of the pipes below the sink; all the way to the wall. I inspected each pipe and as I observed the pipe nearest the wall connection, I found the problem. Due to the curve in the pipes behind the wall, the pipe closest to the wall had become clogged with debris. Even with all of the Drano and Liquid Plumber products that I was pouring down the drain, it wasn’t going to clear the clog. I cleaned out all of the debris in the pipes, reconnected them, and the drain flowed as if it was brand new.
Reflecting on this clogged drain, it got me to thinking about how our lives at times are much like the clogged drain. Though we realize that we have a problem in our spiritual life, we will often try to fix the problem through some external means without actually addressing the real issue. We may even convince ourselves that if we just read a verse in the Bible, pray a short prayer, or even attend a church service that our spiritual problem will go away. In time, we may even start to accept the spiritual problem – not wanting to get to the root of the problem – and as well, not wanting to call upon the “Plumber” (meaning, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ). Consequently, our spiritual progress continues to degrade, and at times we become spiritually “clogged”. So, what are we to do? The solution to unclogging the spiritual debris in our life is that we must first turn to the Lord and acknowledge that we have a “spiritual” problem. Our spiritual problem may be that we have forsaken a daily walk with the Lord; we may have unconfessed sin; we may have allowed the world to overshadow our relationship with the Lord; we may have lost our first love of the Lord – causing our “joy” to go by the wayside. But be reminded here, all of these are fixable.
King David did not realize that he had a spiritual problem in his life – though he had had an affair with Bathsheba. In fact, it could be stated that he became accustomed to his spiritual condition; for he had not addressed it before the Lord. When the prophet Nathan pointed out the problem, David immediately turned to the Lord in repentance. Notice David’s heartfelt prayer.
Psalms 51:1-12,
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
As you can see, David had to get the spiritual debris out of his life before he could have a free flowing spirit. The question is, “Do you suffer from a spiritually clogged life?” If you do, turn to the Master “Plumber”. The Lord can and will get your spirit flowing freely and He will restore the joy of His salvation in your life. But, be careful on what you put down “the drain” in the future; for it might become “clogged up” again.
