In Praise of Working Pipes

Yes, I know "cold" is a relative term but it was cold around here. I know it was not as cold as some places but when our average low for the area is 39 degrees and we have days and nights in the teens we call that cold.

One of my friends called and told me to cover the pipes so they don’t freeze. My first thought was, “Pipes? Do I have pipes?” It’s not something I regularly consider. It’s those things that are hidden in my house that brings the water to the faucets. They are not on display or considered in my décor scheme but they are important.

And so began the search for those (not so cute) outside faucet insulators. I knew I had some somewhere but where? I finally found them but one was broken so then began the search in stores for one. Evidently by the time I got around to getting one they were all gotten by other people who had thought about their pipes before I did. So I had to wrap one of the outside faucets with an old T-shirt, a plastic bag, and duct tape it to the brick. (And I thought the faucet insulators were not so cute.)

Then my friend told me to let the faucets drip all night on those teen degree nights. This was to keep the water from freezing in the pipes and causing them to break and potentially flood my house. I remembered that constant dripping water was used as a method of torture in the past. And, yes, by morning I was ready to confess all.

Those hidden pipes in my house became important. I had to consider them and bring their works out into the open. This reminded me of:

1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”

We should not judge other people. We don’t know about their hidden pipes (their intentions and motives.) We need to be concerned about our own pipes (our hidden attitudes of the heart.) One day the Lord will expose all of our pipes (our life motivations.) Some will be Ok and some will be not so OK. Some will be working and some will be busted. But at that time God will give the praise to us for our individual care of our pipes (our attitudes.). I took the analogy a little too far, didn't I?

One commentary put it kind of like this, (I modernized some of it.) "In the end, every man will receive judgment. He will be treated as he ought to be. Our destiny will not be decided by the opinions of people; but our judgment will be set by God. It is very important that we are prepared for that Day. It is very important to form our heart attitudes, so they do not involve us in shame but in praise."

In preparation for that day, each person needs to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Everyone will stand individually before God and it will not matter what others have said about you but what God knows about you. He knows our intentions, schemes, and motives. Only the acceptance of Jesus' forgiveness of our sin will matter. Only our submission to the Holy Spirit in our life will matter. Only the reason for our life and whether we followed God with our life will matter.

And so as I consider my hidden pipes, I’m also considering my hidden heart attitudes and motives. I’m taking care of the inner core areas of my life that are not visible on the outside. One day, I want the praise from the Lord.

In praise of my working pipes