The cover was not placed on the pool last year in preparation for fall and winter. As a result? we have been struggling this year with getting the pool clean, clear and ready to swim in. In April we started digging the leaves out of the bottom of the pool and pouring in chlorine. We would dig for a few days, pour in gallons of chlorine, and the water would turn from green to blue as we started to make progress. In fact? After 2 weeks of this routine, we thought we had it almost ready. We could see ourselves swimming any day now, the pool doing what it was designed to do. Keep us cool, refreshed and close to the sun! The water was a pretty blue and you could see about a foot or two down into the water. It wasn’t quite there yet, but it looked good! We fully expected it to be clear when the next day dawned. But instead? It was turning green again. What?!? It was time to get serious with the efforts, and in doing so? We found that there were still a couple of piles of leaves lurking on the bottom of the pool. No matter how much chlorine we poured into the pool out of a desire to swim? As long as there was even a trace of leaves left lurking on the bottom that we couldn’t see, the pool would eventually, once again, turn green.

It was in one of those last days I was out digging one of those hidden pockets of leaves that the Lord spoke this analogy to me of the parallel between the pool and our lives….

When Jesus looks at us (like we did the pool) he sees us as we were designed to be. He sees a vessel full of light, sharing the gospel, and bringing others into the presence of the Son. But if we don’t guard our hearts (leaving the cover off the pool) we can easily allow sin to enter in. Just like the leaves that didn’t fall into the pool all at once, our walk with the Lord can be a slow fade away back into a life of sin. And then, just like the green, murky water in the pool? The darkness of sin will overtake our lives. The light that was once refreshing and inviting to others (the blue water in the pool) will now be unseen due to the darkness of sin (the green water in the pool). But Jesus? He never stops pursing us. The same way we wouldn’t stop scooping out the leaves, testing the water, and doing all we could to restore the pool to it’s original design. We could see our pool being used as it was intended. Just as we dug out the leaves and poured chlorine into the pool, one can repent, remove sin from their lives, and pour in the word and prayer. And just like the water in the pool became blue and started to show a resemblance of restoration to it’s original design? Our lights will start to shine once again before men as we start the process of restoration. But just like the small, hidden pockets of leaves that would turn the entire pool green overnight? If we have ANY hidden sin lurking in our hearts, we will not be living the life we were designed to live. We may look like that blue water for a day, or even two. But any anger, rebellion or unforgiveness still lurking in the bottom of a heart keeps one from being truly free. And just like the green water appeared again, that unforgiveness, anger or rebellion can turn your soul dark once again and snuff out your light.

What about you? What lurks beneath? Is there anything you need to get rid of so you can let your light shine in a life of freedom from sin and one that invites others to get closer to the Son?

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8: 31-36