There are several programs on HGTV now about flipping houses.  The usual format is to find a house with “good bones” and demolish the interior down to the outer walls.  With the help of a designer and many skilled laborers one can make the old house into a new home.  Unless one decides to walk away and abandon the house, it can be redone and filled with beautiful furniture and décor and end up being a forever home.

Something similar can happen in a person’s life.  God demolishes one’s old sinful self and gives one a new spiritual house called salvation (Eph 2:8-9) (Acts 2:38).  One starts with the “good bones” of a new spiritual life.  The Holy Spirit is the master carpenter with the inspired words of the New Testament as the blueprint.  He begins to redo one’s inner being (Eph 3:16) (Rom 5:5) with the qualities (Gal 5:22-23) which will make it full of things that are like Christ.

As with the physical home, there will always be maintenance and upgrades to even the most wonderful spiritual home (Php 3:12-14).  One must keep transforming the mind (Rom 12:2) and habits to reflect the Lord’s glory in one’s new home (2 Cor 3:14).  Some physical homes are not as full of fine features as others because of economic issues.  This appears to be what the Apostle Paul is saying about our spiritual home (1 Cor 3:12-15).

Unbelievably, some do choose to walk away from this wonderful gift (Heb 6:4-6).  Thankfully, most choose to transform and sanctify their new homes (2 Cor 3:17-18) (Php 3:21).  Sometimes the new homeowner will work alongside the laborers on the flipping process to expedite the move in date.  Christians are also told to do good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10) (Jo 9:4).  “…As we see the Day approaching (Heb 10:25),” and realize our new home is near (1 Jo 3:1-3) (Jo 14:2-3), we will also want to turn our house into a glorious home (Php 2:12).

                                                                     –Jim Bailey