Clean out the Buffer
Recently, I was in a Bible study with a new Christian and discussing living the Christian life. With a background in electronics, he said that one must “clean out the buffer” when he becomes a Christian.
A buffer is a temporary storage capability in computers. The buffer holds information temporarily until it can be saved to a storage device or to the central processing unit. For example, when you type in a word processing document, your typing is stored in a buffer until it is saved on the computer. When you watch a video on the internet, the video is first loaded to a buffer before you can watch it on the computer. The faster your computer, the less you see the impact of a buffer.
So, my new Christian friend was suggesting that a new Christian needs to clean out old habits, sinful tendencies, attitudes, and actions. Not only must a new Christian do such but experienced Christians need to work on it too. As one preacher said, “Baptism does not drown the devil.”
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation” (Matthew 12:43-45).
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Simon, of course, is a clear example of this concept in Acts 8. Simon is first introduced in verse 9 as one who “practiced magic” and through that deception “amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great’” (8:9-10).
When Simon tried to buy the ability to pass on miraculous gifts from the apostles, Peter told him he needed to “clean out the buffer:” “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you” (verse 22).
If you find yourself committing the same sins now that you did when you were not a Christian, maybe you should clean out the buffer!
–Paul Holland
