Ugly House

September 20-26, 2020 – Belinda Castillo

There is an ugly house on Laurel Street here in town.  It wasn’t always ugly.  In fact, at one time it was pretty decent looking and had a lot of potential.  It sold back in 2014 for $255,000. 

We don’t drive down that street very often, but when we would, I would look at that house and think – the architecture is so different from everything around it.  It just stands out like a sore thumb.  As I would think it I would hear a voice from the back of the van.  It was my oldest  daughter. She would say “Mom! I love that house.  It’s so beautiful.  If I had the money I would buy that house.”  

I, of course, looked at the practical side of things and I would say to her, “Sweetheart, it would take a whole lot of time and money to fix up that house.”  Her reply?

“I don’t care. I would do it. “ 

The years went by and the house went into disrepair.  One day the big oak tree out in front of the balcony came crashing down on it. It just stayed that way – broken.  The bushes died off.  Then someone put a worn out couch in the front.  (I don’t know how that happens but have you noticed that worn out couches always end up in front of ugly houses?)  People who walked by the house would throw their trash on that property because, after all, it was obvious that no one cared about it.  The house had truly become an ugly house.  

I wish I had a picture of the house in those days to show you, but no one wants to take pictures of things like that.  Just picture it in your mind’s eye.  

Well I remember driving by that house in those days and saying, “Oh no… who would buy that thing now? It’s a shame and it had so much potential too.”  And Elena would say, “I would buy it mom.  That’s my dream house.”  She obviously saw something that I couldn’t see. 

We are like houses too. The Bible refers to our bodies as houses or temples. (Matt. 7:24-27, Matt. 12:43-45, 1 Cor. 6:19-20)  So… maybe you’ve felt like that house. Maybe you haven’t, but maybe you have.  Maybe you didn’t feel like you were “all that” but at least you had potential.  Then life came crashing down on you.  You couldn’t keep up with everything.  And the brokenness inside spilled to the outside.  It could be then that people saw your brokenness and starting heaping more trash on you because they didn’t think you were worth anything anyway.  Maybe you’ve kept the curtains drawn because you couldn’t show anyone what was on the inside and it was so dark.

Friends, I have good news! Someone sees that house and He says, “I would give anything for that house.  It’s my dream house!” 

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us”  (Romans 5:8)  He didn’t wait for us to choose him – He chooses us! (Ephesians 1:4)

You know Jesus is really good at seeing what things can become with a little investment and hard work.  Romans 4:17 tells us “Godgives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”  He sees us, not as we are but as we CAN BE.  He’s invested everything He has in you and me.  He’s willing to do anything for us, but He can’t start work unless we hand over the keys.  

I drove by that ugly house the other day and was absolutely stunned.  It had become a beautiful mansion!  In fact, it was put on the market this summer in June and it was listed for $1,200,000!

I showed the pictures of the renovated house to my daughter.  She was so happy to see what had been done to the house.  “See mom,” she said, “Remember I told you it was my dream house.”

Keep your eyes on Jesus my friend.  Hand over the keys to him.  Trust Him.  He knows what he’s doing.  He paid a really high price for you and me because we’re worth it to Him.  Let’s trust Him together.  In His hands we can become that Million Dollar Dream House.