Texas Legacy Tour Part 2: Tearing It Down

As I begin part two of this Texas Legacy Tour Series, I can’t help but reflect back on the biggest shock I had.(Please read to Part 1 if you haven’t read.) 

I grew up in Houston and lived in a home from 6th grade until I married at 19. Eleven years ago, I was in Houston for a convention and drove out to the location. Thinking it might be less than I remembered, or run down, I was pleasantly surprised that it looked as good, maybe even better than when I lived in it! They even got grass to grow in a shady spot my dad never been able to make happen. 

As we drove, I was excited to show my husband how great it looked. Imagine my absolute shock when we turned the last corner to see my house was not there! Even the home beside it was gone. In this place was a huge, gorgeous home. 

Falling silent, I said, I’m not sure how I feel about this. To be honest, I’m still not sure. If I’d not seen it 11 years ago, I don’t think the shock would have been so great. It put me in a downer mood the rest of that day, sad that my home had been destroyed.

What can I learn from this? I’m still trying to figure it out, but one thing I am reminded of is this: sometimes we need to tear down things to rebuild something better. Spiritually, we have to lay our lives down, and the fact that we want to be “king” of our personal world. Innate self-centeredness will do that, won’t it?

By accepting Christ as Savior, our other gods must be laid down for Him to become King over our lives. Maybe it’s a dream, an unhealthy habit, a misdirected desire to be known, a fear. It can be anything to which we’ve become a slave, often unintentionally. What occupies our thought life? Our time? Our desires? If we spend more time focused on that thing rather than our relationship with Jesus, it will become a god. 

In Deuteronomy 7, God instructs Israel to conquer the land where evil, cruel people lived because that had been promised to Israel. They were to completely destroy them and tear down their pagan altars to false gods so the true God would be known and worshiped.

Perhaps it’s time to tear down our own altars of desires and ask God to fulfill His desires fully in us. As we focus on His will, we are able to be grateful for who He is and what He has provided for us in life. It doesn’t mean we stop dreaming, we just submit our dreams to Him to use however He chooses. Otherwise, we will never find peace and contentment Christ offers.

What do you need to tear down? Sometimes we are unable to walk forward until we destroy what has held us back. 

Recovering from my shock at the destruction of the home I once lived in, I have to admit, the new home is beautiful! But if God wanted me to live in that one, I’d be there. That’s not His plan for me, so I can leave it behind and seek where He is taking me next.

Banner photo by Brad on Unsplash