Average reading time is about 5 minutes
AN AMAZING FACT: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also known as the BP oil spill) is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. It flowed for three months in 2010 before being capped on July 15, 2010. It released about 4.9 million barrels of crude oil.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill created a big mess. Wildlife and marine life were destroyed. Hundreds of miles of shoreline were contaminated. The fishing industry was shut down. Today, tar balls continue to show up in fishermen’s nets. Oil sheens are still observed in many places. By July 2011 about 490 miles of coastline in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are still contaminated.
Who is responsible for the mess? The U.S. Government is holding British Petroleum (BP) accountable for all clean-up costs and damage. In June 2010, BP set up a $20 billion fund to compensate those hurt by the spill. Over one million claims have been submitted, and thousands still come in each week.
Hezekiah also had a big mess to clean up. “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:3). Then he said to the Levites, “Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord” (vs. 5, 6). From the start of his reign, Hezekiah tackled what was most important—caring for the house of the Lord.
Our own lives are a mess. Without Jesus, the temples of our hearts are filled with rubbish. Like Hezekiah, we have a big mess to clean up. Billions of dollars won’t do the job. We don’t need skimmers or disbursement chemicals. The sacred work of heart cleansing comes only through a broken spirit that allows the Holy Spirit to come inside and clean house. Why not invite the Spirit to come in and start cleaning your heart today?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psalms 139:23And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139:24
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