Flimsy Walls and Whitewash

One of my vivid memories growing up was watching my grandfather whitewash the side of the barn and the milk house on his farm. Whitewash went on fast and it made everything look so neat and clean. But in the end, well, it was still a barn!

In the days of Israel when Ezekiel was prophesying, there were also many false prophets telling the people all was well. Ezekiel was telling the people the truth – that God’s judgment was coming and he would no longer tolerate their idolatry. He was calling their hearts back to God. But they were a rebellious people and were encouraged in their idolatry by the false prophets. Ezekiel told them that they were building flimsy walls and whitewashing them and that those walls would not last when God’s judgment would fall on the people. (Ezekiel 13-14)
It is easy to say, “Foolish people! You should have listened to Ezekiel and to God.” But then I begin to wonder… Is it possible we are building flimsy walls and whitewashing them? If so, what might that look like?

I have been reading a book entitled, “Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People,” by Will Metzger. Sometimes what the author says is very unsettling. He begins his chapter on grace by quoting Cornelius Plantinga, Jr, “For the Christian church (even its recently popular seeker services) to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the nerve of the gospel. For the sober truth is that without full disclosure on sin, the gospel of grace becomes impertinent, unnecessary, and finally uninteresting.” In other words, if we are not aware of our sin, we have no understanding of our need of a Savior.

When is the last time you or I have had a conversation with someone about sin. Have we forgotten that God is a Holy God, that He is righteous, good, and does not tolerate idolatry of any kind? I wonder if we have lost sight of that because He is a forgiving God full of mercy and grace – that we assume forgiveness and go about sinning without understanding the consequences. If our ‘whitewashed flimsy walls’ keep us from understanding our desperate need for help, we can’t begin to understand what Christ did for us and continues to do on our behalves through His death and resurrection.

If we actually get even a glimpse of that, how can our hearts be anywhere but fully devoted to the God who saves us? Yet we find ourselves devoted to many other things (whitewashed flimsy walls) and giving God only marginal time and attention. And so I ask myself, who/what am I devoted to? If I am willing to address that question and listen and watch for God to show me, I will see the idolatry in my life that is first and foremost sin that needs to be repented of and as I seek God’s forgiveness and experience His grace, I will become more devoted to Him and other things will take their proper place.

In this day and age when ‘truth’ is whatever we want it to be, God’s Truth still stands. His Truth is the only wall that is not flimsy and whitewashed and will not be crushed by His righteous judgment. Whether or not we seek His Truth is up to each of us as individuals. We, like Adam and Eve in the garden, try to hide from Him, but He pursues us and has provided a way to fully restore us into right relationship with Him because He loves us deeply. I am truly grateful for His grace that is active in my life daily. As I become more fully devoted to Him, I want that grace to be active in the lives of others as well – to see His Kingdom grow. “… Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”