Filter Needed

For my full-time job, I work at cleaning and maintaining swimming pools. In order to do this well, I will go to each of the pools I maintain on a weekly basis. I begin with emptying the skimmer baskets of any debris in them. Then I will skim the top of the water for any leaves or other debris floating on the water. Next is emptying out the pump basket and checking the chemical levels in the pool, adding as necessary. All of this is done weekly.

At a minimum of twice a year, I need to pull the pump filter system apart and clean out the filters. Clean filters ensures that the water is cleaned by the filters all the time and allows for proper flow of the water.

Starting at the beginning time frame of each summer is when I work at cleaning all the filters. Filters are only cleaned otherwise if there is something to show that they are not working properly. The two most common reasons for needing an unscheduled filter clean are when there is residue flowing back into the pool or when the water pressure has significantly increased.

As I was working on cleaning some filters this summer, I realized that clean filters are something that believers need to have in their own personal lives in their walk with God.

The world does not believe in having filters in their lives. Anything is permissible as long as it does not immediately harm someone else. Filth can be seen in television shows, movies, books, music, pictures and nearly anything else. Filth is often promoted in public schools and colleges across the nation as good. It is believed to be the right of an American to have filth in one’s life if one wants it.

God has no filth in Him at all. He is pure and holy without sin. Believers are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). This is made possible because it is Jesus who forgives us of all sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

When I clean a filter, I take it out and clean out all of the junk in it. In the same way through Jesus, God goes into the filters of our heart and mind and removes all the junk, sin, in the heart and mind. Once our hearts and minds are cleansed of filth, believers need to have filters put in place to keep from bringing the filth back in.

Filters are found in the mind and heart. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8). The only way a person can think in these ways are if they have filters on their hearts and minds.

The heart and mind must be filled with the things of God and His word first and foremost. One must hide God’s word in one’s heart to keep from sinning against Him (Psalm 119:11). Then one must be willing to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Ask yourself if you have a filter in your life and where does it get its authority from. Then ask yourself if that filter is cleansed by God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.