When we moved into our current home, I saw a potential opportunity that would be the envy of every little boy—a secret room. This house has a second story room with stairs leading up from our main living area, but it did not have a door, and we were losing heating and cooling. The opening is an odd dimension so whatever I put there, I would have to build. This is when the little boy in me kicked-in. “Why not build a hinged book case? Make it a secret room nobody will know is there.” I have not completely finished, but I am down to some sanding and stain.
Regardless if you have this kind of hidden room, most households have either a room, or a closet, or someplace they do not want visitors entering. It may be just a place for your junk. Yet, that nook could store magazines or books you do not want people knowing you read. It could be a stash from your sinful past. You keep it just in case—a pint of whiskey, a little bag of pot, an XXX CD or DVD, hidden files on the computer, you get the point. Secret rooms do not necessitate a physical location. We can hide thoughts in the recesses of our mind. We do not permit them to surface often, but in a weak moment, or maybe when we feel good, get overconfident in ourselves, and let down our guard, then they come to the surface. I have taught all my children, “Our greatest failures can come after our greatest victories.” Why are these objects or thoughts still there? Most likely, those who have them have never allowed the Holy Spirit to enter and clean house.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Eph. 3v17). What is particularly interesting here is the word he uses for dwell. It is a combination of two words and literally means to ‘down house’. In other words, to settle down, be at home, or permanently reside. This word cannot be used in reference to a visitor. Paul is praying that Christ will be at home in the hearts of the Ephesians and not merely a visitor.
Paul adds another dimension in v19; that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. The word for filled means, just that, filled or full with no space for anything else. Some years ago, exterminators completely wrapped my aunt’s house with plastic and pumped in bug poison. There was not a single space the poison did not reach. It permeated all the rooms, closets, cabinets, the attic, and even inside the walls. Her house was totally filled. No hidden places for a bug to hid. The LORD’s desire is that all of our heart, mind, and soul may be filled up. He does not want any room or nook He is unable to enter. Realize we may hide these places from those around us, but our hidden rooms are like glass to the Holy Spirit, for He knows the secrets of the heart (Psa 44:21). He sees what is there and wants to clean it out, but we must first permit Him to enter.
The most telling example of hidden places is the story of Achan in Joshua 7v21. Israel had been defended in the battle following their victory over Jericho. The soldiers had been commanded not to take spoils from Jericho. However, Achan coveted and took a cloak and some money. Because he knew, it was wrong he hid it in a secret place—he dug a hole in his tent. Yet, the LORD knew and revealed to this Joshua. This was the reason they had lost the battle and the enemy had killed 36 of Israel’s soldiers. Because of his sin, Achan, his family, his animals, and all his possessions were destroyed.
You may be saying, “I certainly don’t have that kind of secret sin in my life?” Most people do not. This account does point out that sin may be hidden from everyone else, but God knows and also remains us there is a consequence for hidden sins. Even the little things have an effect. Solomon referenced that it is the little foxes, which spoil the vineyard (SS 3:15). It was Israel’s smallest and least powerful neighbors they never conquered that eventually led to intermarriages and idolatry. So, how will a small hidden room affect the Christian?
Paul makes that clear. A secret room hinders one from being filled with the fullness of God. Christ desires to dwell, settle down, and permanently reside in all rooms of our life. You might ask yourself, “What am I missing in my life because of this secret place?” Paul answers that question. Christ dwelling in us, roots and grounds us in His love; He enables us to comprehend the greatest of that love; and to know His love that suppresses knowledge (Eph 3:17-19).
How do we accomplish this? We must be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man (v15). This simply means we allow the Holy Spirit to enter and search every place in our life and if need be to do a thorough house cleaning—room by room; closet by closet; nook by nook. Paul ends this powerful doxology by saying we cannot begin to imagine what He can do through us. Is it worth keeping that secret room?
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Ask the Holy Spirit to search the secret places of your life and mind. Allow Him to clean house. Then expect Christ to take up residence and fill you up to all the fullness of God.