The word “clutter” can be defined as a disorderly state, collection or condition. You may be wondering how I came up with that word when writing about the Gospel of the Lord. An explanation is in order. I give credit to the Lord for what I write and say. I will do so again now. After being awakened by Him at around 2:00 a.m. and spending an hour or so in conversation with Him, I suddenly saw the word “clutter” in my “mind’s eye”–my term, but I am sure you understand what I am saying. Everywhere I looked that word was there, printed in large white letters against a black background. Then my Master began to speak to me about clutter with instructions for me to write about it. It is not unusual for Him to “speak” to me about the subject He wants me to write about. However, I don’t recall ever seeing a word displayed in this manner before my “mental eyes.” With His visual “voice” speaking to me, I will deliver what He places in my mind. I pray that I hear His spiritual “voice” correctly. In other words, I pray that the mental clutter that is always trying to enter my mind will not affect the Lord’s message He has for you today. As is always the case, I am believing that He will lead me in fulfilling His will.

Everything involved in human existence that does not directly or indirectly involve the Godhead is clutter–stuff that fills the surface of the earth and the air above it in which mankind lives. Much of it is necessary, but not something on which God’s people need to focus. Unfortunately, much of life’s clutter has been placed in man’s life by his enemy–Satan. The original clutter was the “serpent” in the Garden of Eden. If Adam had been paying attention, that being would have been cast out of the garden at first sight. How would this have been possible? you might ask. The answer is found in Genesis 1:26-31. But first a little word-defining study.

“In the beginning God ….” The Word “God” in Hebrew is “Elohim,” a plural word used to identify a singular entity. In this passage the creation process involved two Gods–Elohim. For convenience I normally use the Word “God” when referring to the Father and “Lord” when referring to Jesus Christ. Notice in this passage that Adam (a Hebrew word meaning “man”) was given dominion (absolute control) over the earth, and everything on it, the seas and everything in them and the birds of the air directly above the earth. Being that Adam had dominion over everything on the earth, his control would have included the serpent that we find in the Garden of Eden talking with Eve in Genesis 3:1-8.

Adam and Eve lived in the garden where God intended for them to stay forever. Obviously, they were not alone. Note in verse 8 that the serpent was in the garden with them. Notice in 1:25 and 30 that the BEASTS God created were not placed in the Garden, but rather in the “FIELD” OF THE “EARTH.” THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS RESERVED SPECIFICALLY FOR ADAM, EVE AND THEIR OFFSPRING. If Adam had been diligent, the serpent could not have entered the garden and would not have had access to Eve. In the spiritual sense, the serpent was the first “clutter” man was forced to deal with.

Since that time man has evolved intellectually and in physical ability which has enabled him to invent and discover various stuff and things that have become part of his life–clutter. Most clutter is not bad, unless one allows it to have too much influence over one’s life, which often happens. For example, in its original format, television was basically a news-dispensing industry. But eventually it became a source of entertainment. I was 15 when we bought our first television. Like everyone else, I immediately became addicted. My world had suddenly been exposed to an existence far beyond the cotton, corn and hay fields that surrounded me and in which I spent a great deal of time. Suddenly, worldly mental clutter filled the air as well as my mind. This clutter was soon joined by various types of physical clutter as advertising brought things into my mental life that I had not previously known existed. If I had previously known about it, I lacked access to it so it was not important to me. Suddenly I was thinking about things I had not known existed. Mental clutter had inhabited my previously small world. Being totally human, I was soon addicted to the “boob tube” and remained so for many years.

Today the air in all but the most primitive parts of the earth is filled with all kinds of such clutter, the vast majority of which, though not necessarily bad, nevertheless, dominates much of mankind’s mental activity. Before t.v. schedules were printed in newspapers, the T.V. Guide was the most popular book in print. A new one came out each week. No home was complete without one. Things and stuff filled people’s minds. Casual conversation often involved what the conversants had seen on television. Over time such stuff increased dramatically. Today, thanks to millions of hand-held clutter containers, mental clutter rules most of the thought processes and conversations of human beings.

Then there are the physical things we need in order to get along in this sophisticated and stuff-filled world. As a result, modern man’s life is literally filled with things and stuff that have nothing to do with the Godhead and Their effect on our lives. This is exactly what Satan had in mind in the first place. Many years ago I made the statement that television would be the downfall of man. And that was before the internet came on the scene which proved me wrong. The WWW now rules man’s world.

Whatever keeps man from thinking about the things of God serves Satan’s purpose, even though the thing itself might not be bad. If it keeps man from thinking and being about the things of God, it is fulfilling its purpose. A good example is televised sports. Though there is nothing innately wrong with sports, it can, like anything else, become a sin if one favors it over the things of the Lord relative to one’s thoughts and how one spends one’s free time.

The Apostle Paul addressed this issue in Philippians 4:8,9 where he writes about the kinds of things that, even in those days, were filling the minds of church people. Paul told those in the Philippi church, and us, that, “Whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be anything worth PRAISE–THINK ON THESE THINGS. Those things which you have LEARNED AND RECEIVED AND HEARD AND SEEN IN ME–DO THOSE THINGS.” As I have said before, WHAT WE OBSERVE TEND TO THINK ABOUT. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WE TEND TO DO.

Modern life is filled with things and stuff that have nothing to do with God or godliness in our life’s walk. Yet we are forced to deal with them. After all, someone has to mow the yard, wash the dishes, shop for groceries, make a living, etc. These qualify as “clutter” in that they have nothing to do with the Lord and His command for holiness and righteousness which, as Paul notes in Romans 5:21 and 6:22, WILL RESULT IN SALVATION. Nevertheless, some clutter must be dealt with even for the most ardent seekers of righteousness, holiness and godliness.

The key is to have two levels of consciousness. One level concerns life’s “clutter”–our work, shopping, etc.–things that must be done. The other level involves the things of the Lord, specifically His Holy Word by which we will all be judged (Jn. 12:44-50–note 48). The key is to be able to take care of both jobs at the same time. I highly recommend Bible memorization, which one can accomplish while doing almost anything else. I recommend choosing a passage of Scripture (like a verse) each morning and repeating it many times throughout the day. We need to fill our minds with things that have eternal significance whenever we can. While driving, eating, etc. we have free time. Let us use it to bring ourselves closer to God as we deal with life’s other “clutter.” If you are a clutter addict, ask God to take those things that God disapproves away from you. If you are serious, He will do so. I am living proof that help will be on the way for those who are serious about eliminating nonessentials–negative clutter–from your life. L.J.