100% Sanitized. Guaranteed.

Did you know that in a recent poll one out of two Christian women rated "disorganization" as the top behavior they strive to overcome? The survey statistics reflect women's struggles with more "modern" sins including inefficiency and behaviors affecting productivity in their homes. Really? Check out the confusing Barna survey here, completed in 2012. It is disconcerting because traditional sins like lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride barely hit the radar (8% and lower) on the survey.

Help me figure out how this can be. Is being disorganized on the top of the list because Christian women are reflecting the world and its views? I wonder if the deadly sins are considered not so deadly any more because we are numb to them thanks to modern media? Or if the women taking the survey had an issue with being honest for appearances sake?

We live in a sanitized world, or at least a world that wants to appear to be sanitized. Looking good, or appearing to be close to perfect in our homes, body, hair, clothes and shoes seems to have a higher priority than the disorganized condition of our hearts.

Don't get me wrong, taking care of what we have been given is important as good stewards. That pleases God. But let's not forget that by ourselves we cannot reach his standards, no matter how much we try.We truly are not worthy. God's Word uncovers the need we cannot live without: a makeover of the messed up condition of our heart.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Samuel 16:7

The only way we can look good to God is through the lens of Jesus Christ. He offers forgiveness for all sins - deadly sins along with anything else that is wrong, even personal disorganization in our lives. He has given his perfect life and innocent death as a ransom for our sin-sick souls. Through him only are we 100% forgiven, clean, and sanitized. Guaranteed. There's just no other way.

But we must take sin seriously and not minimize 'real' sin's impact on our lives. We need to know what God's Word defines as sin. We need to judge our actions in the light of God's law, plead for forgiveness and live in praise for the One who conquered sin and death. We must understand what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. We must teach our children the same. Our future depends on knowing.

So what if we aren't perfectly groomed? So what if we are disorganized? Please consider the inside condition above the outside appearance, and experience the grace of God through faith in Jesus' perfection over the perfection offered by this world.

As true women, let's focus on the right things, the things that matter in eternity. Let's be 100% certain that we are grounded in truth!

Lord Jesus, by your grace, your wonderful undeserved love, we are secure. When we are tempted to fall into the trap of the world's idea of being outwardly perfect, forgive us. Point us to your Son's perfect life and innocent death. Give us a makeover of the heart so that we can live for you now and forever. Amen.