A number of years ago, an old shell of a house was moved to a new location not very far from us. Its windows were broken out; some doors were missing; other doors could not be opened or shut. It had a large sign on it that said, “CONDEMNED.” It was not a very pretty sight, and people living in the neighborhood were not too happy about its being moved there. Not only could no one live in it, but it also was not a safe place for children to play. Boys and girls liked to explore through it just to see what was inside such an old, run-down, empty house. No one seemed to take any interest in the old house after it was moved. It was just left on the wheels used by the movers for a long time.
Then one day some workmen came and began to change its looks. They built a foundation under it. But it was still just an empty, old house with no windows and doors, and it still had the “condemned” sign on the front of it. Even the new foundation did not make it a house in which anyone would want to live, and it was still not a safe place to play.
As the work went on bit by bit, the looks of the house began to change. It was interesting to see it changing from the ugly “not-fit-to-live-in” look into a “cute little place.” A new roof was put on. New windows and doors were added. But as yet nothing had been done to the inside of it. The house still was not a place in which someone could easily live; the inside had to be made over.
Soon walls were repaired and painted. New cabinets and bathroom fixtures were installed. The old floors were repaired, and new carpet was laid. Inside and out it was so changed it hardly looked like the same old house. Almost anyone would like to live there now. The house would no longer have to wear the “condemned” sign, because it was no longer the old, run-down shell it once was.
This ugly, condemned, old house gives us a very good picture of every boy and girl and every man and woman who has not received the Lord Jesus as his or her Saviour. The Bible tells us “he that believeth not is condemned... because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18). That makes us like the old empty house. God says that if we refuse to accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour, we are condemned and not fit for the Lord Jesus to come live in us. The old house had to have something done for it before it could become a home. When the Bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” we learn we have to have something done for us before the Lord Jesus can come live within us.
Even though every boy and girl is a sinner, God loves each one. “God is love.” 1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8). He has done something for us so that we might be saved from our awful sins. What did He do? “He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). What God has done in giving His son to die for us is the new foundation on which we may rest. When we let the Lord Jesus wash our sins away, we are not condemned. We are changed and given a new life in Christ.
But the house had to have much work done inside it to make it comfortable. God continues to work in each boy and girl who has the new foundation — his sins washed away. “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:66Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6).
God gave His very best when He gave His Son to die in your place. Will you let Him work in you by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ? He will give you everlasting life and will also come into your life to live and to make you more like Him.
The ugly, old shell of a house is now a lovely home in which a family lives. The change was made by someone first giving it a new foundation and then working on the outside and inside to make it more livable. The Lord Jesus has finished the work needed to give you a new foundation. Will you let Him do this?
ML-04/02/1989