What Hides Underneath

A few years ago we were suprised by a failure of our bathtub… Yep. You read it right. Our bathtub split, just a hairline fracture, but enough for water to seep out. and ruin the floor – and we were clueless!

So. An expensive fix was called for. A friend was our contractor, and he and his dad tore out the old, repaired the needed structures underneath, and put in new fixtures.

The final result was a beautiful job!

We decided to replace our kitchen countertops, not because of failure, but mainly because we want to upgrade the look and have a more durable surface. You know, upgrade the quality, color, texture, and design. All the real reasons for a change!

The Autocad designer showed up to take measurements and to do his fancy footwork on the computer design to make sure that what is manufactured will fit the cabinets we are keeping. The footprint is not changing, just the layer on top. He asked me a question about a particular location between the sink and the window, and I realized we could not know the answer until we tore out the existing countertops. The answer could not be determined by what was visible. It could only be realized once the deconstruction was accomplished.

And who knows what secrets may lie underneath the counter-top!

If we must tear out the countertops sooner rather than the day before the installation, and since the area in question revolves around the sink, it may be that we will be without a kitchen sink for a while… Weeks! Yikes!

This prompted me to think about the design of the substructure, the underneath, that props up the outside view of what we all expect the countertops to look like. What’s underneath, unseen, and unknowable until we tear it out, well, there may be some ugly and poorly design flaws from the original construction in 2003 that have never seen the light of day since the original installation, and will affect the installation of a new veneer!

Every house is designed to be square and perfect, sealed tight to the elements, but imperfections exist everywhere! From the original materials to the skill of the worker, ad-hoc changes along every step of the construction are dealt with to mitigate the imperfections and to assure the final product looks nice.

Bottom line? Most imperfections are hidden. Until it’s time to adjust the finishing!

Put up a new wall and you may find the corners are out of square. Re-roof and you’ll find every crooked line. Try to hang a new door or window and you will be shimming the corrections for days and maybe even years! Peel back a layer and you may find the rot that is slowly eating beneath the veneer.

Here’s my thought today. We are not perfect, and the flaws of our bodies, character, and lives are many. Even our relationships are flawed. This is the truth of every person you know. Imperfections are simply whitewashed by your dressings. Peel back the layers and the flaws show up as the layers of an onion. You cannot make yourself perfect, nor can your dressings hide the depth of wrongness that exists. They are core.

Think about every “self-made” person built by their own strength and if you wish you could replicate their work and become like them. However, remember this, their flaws are hidden and they exist on every level, and their veneer simply glosses over the potential ugly truth.

Think about every personality you know and realize this – they are a product of their culture, environment and unique DNA construct. Their veneer might show one thing, but what lies underneath and behind may contain more imperfections than you can shake a stick at!

Jesus speaks on the Mount (I’ve been where it is thought that he taught) and tells everyone you cannot fix the problems of another person, especially when you have problems of your own. (Matthew 7:3-5). Your personal problem may be bigger than the speck of a problem of your neighbor. Before you successfully deal with others, first fix that major problem of your life!

Paul tells the Ephesians they cannot save themselves, rather, they are saved by the Grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-10) If this is true, the reality is that you cannot save others! Logic from Jesus says we must first work on ourselves! At another time Paul tells the church in Corinth our justification (definition: “just as if I had never…”) comes only by the name of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11). The true fix to all our flaws does not come from how we address them personally, rather it comes from the Master Carpenter who has the ability to address the core issues for us!

John speaks truth in his first epistle when he describes our role to others:

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
(1 John 1:7-10 NKJV)

I started these scripture references from the words of Jesus, let me end them with His words. All of this comes as a result of the words of Jesus teach that we are sanctified (set apart for His use) by His truth, and that truth comes from His words. (John 17:17)

Yes. Our own underneath can be rotten to the core, but peel away the veneer and let words of truth speak into our lives then we may just have the tools and pattern to follow to rip out the “underneath” and rebuild and replace with something much better.

Perhaps this is a good time to stop, reflect, repent, adjust, and then move forward washed, cleansed and made better for the path you are taking.