Holes or Holiness

Suppose you had only one pair of socks to wear every day and they were extremely “worn”. Let’s say the heal of those socks were wearing thin and were full of holes. Then suppose someone noticed your “Holy- worn” socks and offered you a brand new pair – a real thick pair of socks. A pair of socks that were cushy feeling and kept your feet warm and well protected. What would you do? Would you keep the old ones because they were “worn-in” and somehow comfortable for you or would you gladly take the new pair?

This may sound like a strange question but in reality, this illustration fits our lives. The “worn” socks are in effect our lives. Lives that have been shattered hurt and damaged. Lives that have major holes in them because of events in our lives – things we will not let go of. Things like hurt, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. Perhaps others caused the holes – holes that were not created by you but you won’t let go of them. Are you determined to hang on to them – so much so that you cannot let go of the old and reach for the new? The new socks represent forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, peace, joy, trust, and love and yet in order to receive these, you have to let go of the old.

Ephesians 4:31 tells us: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger be put away from you along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you”.

Sometimes we get so “comfortable” that we don’t know how to change or to even accept change. We decide that we’ll make the change when the other person that hurt us makes the first move.

That person one needs to realize may never attempt to make the move you’re expecting – but you can.

Unforgiveness for one causes “holes” in our lives. Pretty soon the “hole” will get so large that the bottom falls out. The weights of bitterness and anger build on top of unforgiveness and it gets out of control.

You cannot go back and undo all the hurts and wrongs done to you – but you can choose to move forward. You can choose to do away with “holy worn out socks” and choose to be clothed in Christ and always be warm, perfect, and always protected, and loved. If you have “holes” or “worn out” places in your heart let go of all of them and let Him cover you in His love and peace. Decide what you really need and desire: Is it “Holes” or “Holiness”?