What's In Your Closet?

A popular banking commercial today portrays a villainous scoundrel from the dark ages barking "What's in your wallet?" My first response is to clutch my wallet tightly and say, "That's none of your business!" But what if I were to befriend this rogue character, show him what he wanted, and maybe even bring him home and give him a spare room or closet to take up residence in? Imagine this for a moment. Let your mind explore the possibilities of such a decision. How would this impact your life? What changes would happen immediately and over time? One thing is for certain, your life would not be the same.

Nehemiah chapter 13 records a similar story. There was an enemy of Israel named Tobiah, who along with Sanballat, and Geshem the Arab, tried their hardest to discourage the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. They tried everything in their power to bring the project to a halt. They sent messengers five times to Nehemiah trying to get him to pull away from the construction site and meet with them privately. He ignored them, refusing to cease his work, and continued to build. They tried fear, rumors, discouragement, and false accusations. They threatened to take back an evil report to King Artaxerxes in Babylon, that Nehemiah was heading a revolt to setting himself up as king of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah disregarded their threats and continued working until the wall was finished. He departed for Babylon to report to the king the progress that had been made. But while he was gone, "Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of God, was allied with Tobiah, and he prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests." Nehemiah 13:4-5

Upon his return, Nehemiah discovered this wrong and gave Tobiah and all of his household goods the boot! He commanded that rooms be cleansed, and that the articles of the house of God be returned to their rightful places. He then contended with the rulers in verse eleven saying, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" He then appointed faithful men to watch over God's house.

When Tobiah was allowed to move in, the articles of God's house moved out. The Levites and the singers returned to their fields because their portions of the tithes were withheld. Tobiah probably feasted on their portion. Like the rogue villain invited to stay, he just took over with no regard to the house in which he was residing.

Let's take time to examine our house. God's word says that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit moved in and put His seal upon our hearts. Satan, who is opposed to the work of God will call out with taunting lies, accusations and distractions, trying to bring the work of God to a halt. And if given the opportunity, will gladly take any little corner of our heart that we might give him. With contempt and disregard, he will begin to push the holy articles of God out of the storeroom of our heart.

Has he tried to take a small space in your heart? Or has time allowed some of the articles of God to be pushed out? Does it feel like your portion has been consumed? The question is, will we ally ourselves like Eliashib, or take action like Nehemiah, sending Tobiah and all of his household goods packing. Pray as David prayed in Psalm 51:10-11, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me."



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