"Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in 
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philippians 1:6

What a long weekend!

My wife and I got up at 4:30am on Saturday and it's now 9:00pm on Sunday...and we're just now slowing down! Our weekend started very early Saturday as we got up and drove the 31/2 hour trip to St.Louis to pick up a shipment for our business.  After spending several hours in St. Louis, we left on another leg of our journey, a 41/2 hour drive to Springfield. It just kind of snow-balled from there.

We did pause for some preaching at Skyline Baptist Church just outside of Branson, but, believe it or not, it didn't last long enough!

Even though it was a very busy weekend, God was so faithful to keep us safe, as usual. And, as usual, He provided me with some spiritual food to chew on along the way.

We were approaching St. Louis and saw a lot of dumptrucks, roadgraders and men walking around in hard hats. This could mean only one thing...delays. The large orange sign confirmed it..."Under Construction." Now, I am sure that the engineer who designed all of the changes and additions to that stretch of Interstate 55 had a vision in mind when he did it. I am sure that he has a perfectly laid plan. Chances are, when he's completely finished with what he started, everything will be for the better and a beautiful, productive road will meet our eyes...
But last Saturday morning, I couldn't see it. It was just a mess and seemed like there could be no possible good to what was being done. It looked like this mess of a road could have no redeeming value at all. To me, it looked worthless and useless to even try to redo things. I just couldn't see any reason that anyone would want to devote as much time and energy and resources as were obviously being spent on this road.

But the engineer looked past all of the construction and saw the end results...and he began to work.

Friends, the Great Engineer did that very thing in my life. When those around me looked at my life, many thought "it's just a mess...there seems to be no possible good in working on it." There were those who saw my sin-ridden life and said, "there's no redeeming value at all." I'm sure that it looked worthless and useless to even try to get involved with me. Why devote that kind of time and energy and resources on trying to change this wicked sinner?

And yet, the Great Engineer had a vision. He saw a beautiful, productive life in the making...and He set up a construction crew and began to work. Oh, I've still got a few ruts here and there. There's an occasional pothole that needs patching and sometimes I wear a little thin, but Praise Jesus, I'm not the road I used to be!

And He's not finished paving yet.

Christian, God sees something very special in you. He sees more than a canvas, He sees a work of art. He sees more than a mass of clay, He sees a sculpture. God looks past the flaws and imperfections and looks at the end result. He has a perfectly laid plain for who you are. He has placed a high value on your life and wants to devote time, energy and resources into shaping you into the image of His only Son.

Know this, my friend. God isn't finished with you and I. He has "begun a good work" in us, as the Bible tells us, and God always finishes what He starts. Someday, perhaps soon, He will complete us in Christ Jesus when He calls us home for good. Until then, we aren't perfect, but we are...

Under construction!
 
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!