“Close” Isn’t Always Good Enough

Our vacuum broke. I’d ignored a cracked clip for about a year, convincing myself that Shark vacuums are so high-quality that the fact the canister no longer had an unbroken seal wasn’t a problem. But eventually, our vacuum made it clear that my efforts to keep the carpets clean were no longer working. Instead of sucking up dirt and moving it into the canister, the vacuum spat dirt and debris around the room from different parts of the machine.

The following week, I pulled out my new vacuum and started on our carpets as usual. I was shocked at how firm the grasp on the rug was, but figured I simply needed to adjust the settings. As I moved from our hallway to the living room into better lighting, I gasped. The comparison between our new vacuum’s ability to pull dust from the carpet was outstanding.

With one sweep of the house, our new vacuum pulled up a month’s worth of dust.

Once I could see the difference, I felt silly that I’d waited so long to replace this important tool.

The suction still partially worked on our old vacuum. But my attempts to “fix” the issue by cleaning filters frequently only prolonged my need to accept the truth.

Because some dirt came up from the carpet each week, I was satisfied with the results. I convinced myself I’d fixed the problem by emptying hoses or cleaning filters because the surface of the carpet stayed clean. But with the right tool, I saw the truth. My efforts weren’t good enough to clean our carpets.

I didn’t need to clean a hose or filter; I needed to replace the whole machine. Close enough wasn’t good enough, no matter how often I convinced myself my broken vacuum was fine.

While it’s easy to see the dirt my carpets were hiding with the right vacuum, it’s harder to see what’s hiding beneath the surface when I face cleaning out my heart. If there’s ever a time I’m liable to convince myself close is good enough, it’s when it comes to dealing with sin.

This is a challenge Paul addresses in Galatians 5:13-26:

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (NASB, emphasis added)

It’s easy to see behavior distinctions when we’re comparing outbursts of anger to kindness and gentleness. My guess is, we know we can’t use the “close is good enough” excuse in those situations.

But as Paul concludes his letter to the church in Galatia, he seems to indicate that there is a more significant issue facing the church. After Jesus’s resurrection, Jewish believers were navigating new territory in many ways. Jewish teachers were clinging to legalism and began to insist that Gentiles would need to be circumcised in order to be followers of Jesus.

The Jewish teachers were saying that since the Gentiles’ physical appearance didn’t align with God’s law for the Jews, they weren’t true believers.

This is a distinction Paul clarifies in Galatians 6:11-16, which says:

See with what large letters am writing to you with my own hand. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (NASB)

Paul points out that this is another situation where “close” isn’t going to make the cut. Looking like a believer isn’t good enough. Jesus addresses this discrepancy as well in Matthew 7:21-23, which says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (NIV)

Seeing the dirt in the canister of the vacuum made me feel a little sick. We were walking over all that dirt for months, unnecessarily. When it comes to cleaning the sin out of my heart, thankfully, God doesn’t leave me to deal with things on my own.

As believers, God sends us the Holy Spirit to help us discern truth (John 14:16), we have God’s Word to study, and best of all, we have direct access to him through prayer. We can use all these tools to help make sure our hearts are as clean as our physical appearance.

Do you find yourself settling for good enough? When you read the list of the fruits of the Spirit, do you strive to reflect the whole list? Why not take some time and see what happens when you stop settling for good enough?

Beth Walker is a football coach’s wife and mom of two energetic boys. She strives to encourage those around her to pursue their best lives in Jesus whether she is near the game field, in church, or at the local coffee shop. As a writer, Beth has been striving to find her voice through seeing Jesus in the ordinary and extraordinary of daily life. She blogs at Lessons from the Sidelines.

Photograph © Cottonbro, used with permission