The house is empty. Except for a couple of crates for my makeshift desk, a lawn chair, boxes that will travel with me, the vacuum cleaner, and my clothes, the place is empty. Not just empty as in no people around but, empty as in no people, no furniture, no pictures on the wall, no food in the refrigerator, not even a refrigerator. I mean empty. The carpets have been vacuumed. The floors have been mopped. The trash has been removed. The house is empty.

Not long ago the house was filled with people, a family. Now it is now empty.

    Not long ago there was talking, singing, and laughter. Now it is silent.

    Not long ago there were children playing in back yard. Now the children are passing by on their bikes and looking at this house as the place where a friend once lived. There are no children here now.

    Not long ago there was a cat that came in when he wanted, and left when he wanted. Now he is gone. There is no television, no radio.

    The house is empty.

    It won’t be long before a new family will move in and make this house their home. There will be new furniture, new decorations, new cars in the driveway, and new faces in the neighborhood. This empty house will be full again.

    I wonder, as I sit here in this empty house, about the future.

Will the people who live here love each other?

    Will the children, if they even have children, enjoy the neighborhood?

    Will they invite their friends into this house?

    Will God be as much a part of the family of the next residents as He has been ours, or perhaps more?

    Will they live here a long time, or will this just be a temporary resting place?

...our soul is swept clean ready for a new start.

    An empty house is like our soul. From time to time we clean everything out. We do it once when we initially commit our life to God. We also do it on other occasions: when we make important decisions about our level of commitment; at certain milestones; or when something tragic shakes us causes us to take stock into where we are, who we are and where we are heading. Very much like this house our soul is swept clean ready for a new start.

    Satan loves it when we clean the house in our soul, because he has the opportunity to move in and take up residence while there is nothing to get in his way. If we are not careful to replace what we remove with things of God, Satan will fill our hearts with envy, and rage, and hatred, and lust, and all kinds of evil. But, if we will move in the things of God like forgiveness, hope, joy, peace, grace, joy, and of course, love, there is no room for Satan’s furniture and he will move on.

    Sitting in an empty house has reminded me of how grateful I am that this house has been only our temporary residence. I’m most thankful that the Lord has taken up permanent residence in my heart. He helps me clean house every day. He fills my heart every morning. He turns emptiness into fullness. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, every day I have the opportunity to sit in an empty house that is clean of all filth and make a fresh start. I can sweep out the trash, bag up the garbage, set it by the curb, and let our special Someone haul it away. Then, once emptied and clean again, I do have a choice about the one who will come in and take up residence in my soul. I choose Jesus, what about you?

    The image of me sitting alone in this empty house, typing on a laptop that sits upon two crates, may be quite humorous to you. I suspect it is a comical sight. But, it has been a good reminder of who and what I allow to live in my soul. Maybe you should try it. You can borrow my crates if you need them.

    Enjoy a new start!

© 2001, Tom Norvell. Used by permission. A Norvell Note is a weekly email message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!

Title: "An Empty House"
Author: Tom Norvell
Publication Date: April 3, 2001

Share with Others	Related Heartlight Resources
Print this Article Send it to a Friend Discuss	Something Worse Swept Clean