Yes, it's that time of year again. A time when garages must be swept, fridges must be checked, and the random bric-a-brac piling up for months needs to be sorted through and dealt with. Rooms are vacuumed, yard sales are held, floors are mopped, files are sorted, apps are deleted, computers are defragged, and the missing puzzle piece from last July is finally found. From cleaning out the whatcha-ma-call-it from underneath the bed to throwing out the kids' old toys, it is time for the yearly tradition everyone knows as...

Spring cleaning!

Now, if you're anything like me (a pragmatic, organizational neat freak), Spring cleaning is one of the best times of the year. Barring Christmas and Easter, Spring cleaning is a chance to clean out anything and everything -- right down to the bathroom baseboards. But, if you are like anyone else, you know Spring cleaning is a pain. Sure, it can be fun, but what's the point? Thing are just going to get dirty again, anyway. And, if you are a habitual procrastinator, Spring cleaning is that time of year you wish to, well, push out until July (hence the missing puzzle piece). For some of us, Spring cleaning might even be a dreadful and scary event; the "but I need it" argument is sure convincing, especially when it comes to canned food.

Whatever your attitude toward Spring cleaning is, we can all agree that it is something need to go through it at least once in our life. Not only does Spring cleaning help to sift through trash and treasure, it can also help in restoring beauty. A filthy table, for instance, can be restored back to its former glory though the process of cleaning. A cluttered room can become neat and tidy through organization. A sluggish phone or computer may run more efficiently once junk files and unused apps are deleted. Cleanliness, whether in the Spring or not, is an important aspect of life. It is through a healthy practice of cleanliness that we can live happier, healthier lives.

In a similar way, Jesus does a Spring cleaning in our souls, though His work continues into eternity. No, Jesus does not grab a broom and a dustpan, but He does offer us Someone much better than that. No, it's not a maid, either. When we comes to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He gives to us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit that dwells inside every believer, enabling them to make good decisions and to share the Gospel. Ultimately, the role of the Spirit is to make every believer like Jesus in terms of character and perspective. When we receive the Holy Spirit into our souls, we begin a process known as sanctification.

What is sanctification? Simply, sanctification is the process of becoming holy -- specifically, becoming more like Jesus. Unlike salvation (the act of being saved), sanctification builds upon salvation in that it continues God's work in a believer. Because of the fallen world we live, we have been exposed to sin and our souls have become filthy as a result. Thankfully, there is Jesus, who took upon Himself all of our sins and rose to life as the Reigning King. So now, it is through Jesus that we have familial access to God and are given the Holy Spirit. But while we no longer have to worry about the penalty of sin (death and eternal separation from God), we still have to deal with the effects of sin. It does not take much more than ten minutes on the internet to see the effects of sin. Just because someone puts their faith in Jesus does not guarantee they will not struggle with sin. All of us, including myself, have fallen short of God's glory (cf. Romans 3:23). This is where the Holy Spirit comes into play. The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. The Holy Spirit will lead us on a journey to discover what God's plan is for our lives, which includes removing or redirecting sinful inclinations.

It is best to think of sanctification as cleaning a filthy room. Salvation grants God access to that room, but sanctification cleans that room until it is fully clean. Not partially, not mostly, but fully clean. Concluding his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes: "May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23, WEB). Sanctification is an active process until God is finished with us -- whether He returns or calls us home. Paul recognizes the activeness of sanctification when he uses the word hagiazō (ἁγιάσαι), which is a verb aorist active optative. In other words, the word Paul uses is active indefinitely, and he wishes this complete sanctification to happen in his brothers in Thessalonica.

All of us, including myself, are works in progress. It does not matter whether you are a pauper or a pastor -- we all need Jesus and, if we trust Him, need to look like Him more. Thankfully, sanctification is Spirit-guided and not something done purely on our own volition. Unlike the quick-fix 'remedies' this world offers, sanctification is a lifelong process, something that begins at salvation and continues into eternity. Even as I write this post, I am being shaped and convicted by the Holy Spirit. And, like Paul, I am "confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, WEB).

So, how's the Spring cleaning coming along?