I knew a woman who straightened up her house every night before going to bed. She did this because she didn't want the Lord to catch her being a messy housekeeper if He should return before morning. I often tried to emulate her high standard of neatness, but as a young homemaker, wife, and mother, I usually ended the day knowing that my house wouldn't pass the test.

Maintaining a well-kept house for the Lord's glory is a worthy aspiration. But eventually I understood that the house on the street where I live isn't His primary concern. He cares much more about the state of the house where He lives—my heart.

In John 14:21, we find two ways to maintain that home: Love God, and obey His commands. Disobedience to God makes our heart-home dirty. But obedience that is expressed out of love for Him will make our hearts a suitable home for God now, and we will be ready when Christ returns.

The following prayer can help us differentiate between external standards and eternal ones: "Help me, Father, to clean my heart as I would my home. Take away all the dust and cobwebs of pride, ill feelings, and prejudice. I want to keep a clean heart-home for You."    — Joanie Yoder