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| Photo courtesy of homehdwallpaper.biz |
A paved patio.
Drainage pipes in the backyard.
A swing set (still in progress).
Bunk beds.
An outdoor electrical outlet.
I have lost count of how many trips we've made in recent days to our local Lowe's Home Improvement Store purchasing pavers, landscape timber, drainage pipes, lumber, and wood stain. And last week the store made an enormous delivery in their big blue truck dropping off literally tons of sand, pavers, and paver base onto our driveway. And there, on every store aisle, delivery truck, and receipt, in thick bold letters, I have been repeatedly accosted by the store's tagline Never Stop Improving.
Now is it just me, or does this motto just plain tire.you.out?
I would submit to you that in some ways, this is a curse more than it is a compelling corporate motto! It reminds me of the guy in Greek mythology, Sisyphus, who was punished for his chronic deceitfulness by having to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again and again, for all time eternal. Ugh.
I mean, do we not all long for a time when we can echo our Savior's words with blessed contentedness...it is finished?
It recalls to mind a passage I recently read in the book of Micah, a prophet to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the days preceding the demise of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria. Let's look at Micah 6:14-15, a passage where Micah relays a judgement to the wicked people of the land who engage in deceitful business practices and exploit the weak and poor...
You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
and there shall be hunger within you;
you shall put away, but not preserve,
and what you preserve I will give to the sword.
You shall sow, but not reap;
you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
In a nutshell, Micah is saying, you will eat/store/sow/work...but to no avail. You will never be satisfied/full/anointed. Sounds to me a lot like our Lowe's motto. You will always be trying to work/earn but will never find the blessed satisfaction and peacefulness of completion.
In stark contrast, God's faithful remnant will enjoy a bountiful harvest and enjoy a contented, completed, and perfected state. Check out these wondrous promises in the New Testament...
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. --Phil 1:6
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. --John 6:27
You see in Christ, it is finished (John 19:30)! In Christ, we can be content, regardless of our physical circumstances (Phil 4:11)!
What hope! What peace! And this is not of our own strength and will power, but of God's!
See it with me...
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. --1 Thess 5:24 (emphasis mine)
...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. --Phil 2:13 (emphasis mine)
So, next time you find yourself at your local home improvement store, or just puttering around the house, keeping it up, will you give pause to reflect upon the truth and thank the Lord Almighty who sanctifies us in every way and who has declared for all time eternal IT IS FINISHED? I trust that as we walk each moment of our days in light of this truth, your life, and mine, will NEVER be the same!
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