The Lord has been blowing my mind lately with what he has been showing me.
In Isaiah 65:21 it says, “In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.”
When I read that, I stopped and meditated on those words. It reminded me of a story I had heard long ago about a man who spent his life smoking and though the Lord would ask him to stop he wouldn’t. When the man went to heaven he saw all the homes that had been built. Beautiful houses with amazing gardens and life. He asked God where his house was and the Lord pointed him to it. The man could not believe what he saw and thought God had made a mistake. The house that was his was surrounded by smoke, gray, and where a garden should be, lay cigarette buds. He asked God why. Why was his house so ugly? The Lord proceeded to remind him of the times he asked him to stop smoking and he didn’t. God told him, “this is the house you built and the fruit you produced.”
I don’t want to have that house when I go to heaven. I’ve done many things in my life that I am ashamed of, but I am so grateful the Lord pointed me down the right direction, because my house was looking like a hot mess. Yes, I still make mistakes and I don’t always listen to the Lord, because I want to continue living my way at times. But how wonderful and joyous it is to live life the way the Father intended me to live this life.
I’m currently reading the Shack by William P. Young, it is a fiction book that depicts the Trinity in a very interesting way. There was a part that stood out to me and reminded me of Isaiah 65:21.
Mack, who is the main character, is helping Sarayu, who is the “Holy Spirit,” clean up a garden. Mack describes the garden as “a mess,” because there is no organization. Flowers, vegetables, fruits are all mixed in together and nothing is separated by group. Mack and Sarayu target a piece of the garden and start destroying it and getting it ready so they can plant more flowers. Well what blew me away was when Mack was explaining to Sarayu and Papa, who is the Father, about how he feels “strangely at home and comfortable” in the garden. Then Papa and Sarayu look at each other and they tell him, “well you should, Mackenzie, because this garden is your soul. This mess is you!”
Mack has been through a lot in his life and because of what he has faced, his garden has become a mess.
There is a lot that we have been through. Things we have done that we are not proud of, but how great is it that we have a God who is willing to help us clean up the mess and build and produce a beautiful home with a garden full of fruit.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the house I am building in heaven and the garden that will accompany my home.
What house are you building? Are you producing the fruit you want?
Father God, reveal to us your wonders. Shows us Father how to build a home that glorifies you. Teach us Jesus how to produce the fruit that draws people to want to know about you. Teach us your ways Lord. In your holy name, Amen!
