THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS (Part I)

THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS  (Part I)

I seldom remember dreams, but I vividly recall a rather curious one that occurred during the summer of 2012.  The setting of my dream was the now destroyed Twin Towers of The World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, New York.  It appeared that engineers were testing the elevators for safety.  After the tests were completed, I rapidly ascended with two other gentlemen.  All three of us had been employed recently by a Fortune 500 Corporation and we were GIVEN expensive laptop computers containing extensive software packages.  

One of the new employees, an apparent techno-whiz, was making a fuss about the fact that he already had an advanced laptop that was more than adequate for his needs.  I listened in astonishment at his incredibly firm insistence that he would NOT accept the computer (even for a day or so) to compare it to one he already owned.  Eventually, a high-level manager looked directly into his eyes and issued a stern warning: “LOOK…I know you are NEW here and don’t know much about our corporate culture, but I have to tell you this: We only need and keep OPEN-MINDED EMPLOYEES.  So…TAKE THE COMPUTER…all right?”  My co-worker’s face reddened as he mumbled softly, “All right.” I stood there watching in silence…wondering why he would not just RECEIVE that which was so freely GIVEN.  At that point, I woke up.

Quickly climbing out of bed, I rushed into my office to write this daily devotional.  My dream reminded me of a powerful scripture penned by the Apostle Peter, one that is a frequent source of encouragement to me.  It contains blessed assurances for all believers that ALMIGHTY GOD has PLANNED and PRODUCED a PROCESS by which we will ultimately arrive at a state of COMPLETION IN HIM.  Read carefully and consider prayerfully what HIS WORD says about YOU.  And may I offer you some sage advice?  After all is said and done…JUST TAKE THE COMPUTER!

II Peter 1:3-8
3 As HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of him who has called us by glory and virtue,
4 By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also, for this very reason, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 To knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 To godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things are yours, and abound, your will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The fact that God has already given us “ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness” seems implausible when we take a sensory or carnal view of our present states-of-being.  How so?  At times, our lives appear to be on hold or practically stalled.  Sometimes they ‘look like’ a MESS…far less than what the scriptures trumpet as the life situation and heritage of Christian disciples.  That is the reason I employ a CONSTRUCTION ZONE METAPHOR in my attempt to describe ‘where’ and ‘how’ we are in this DIVINE PROCESS called LIFE.

First and foremost, always remember this: THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE IS A MESS!

In fact, there is absolutely NOTHING APPEALING about it; and (at least on the surface) there is NOTHING LOGICAL about it.  As a matter of fact, to observers that are untrained, uninformed, or unimaginative, it is virtually impossible to see how a BEAUTIFUL AND FINISHED BUILDING could ever be derived from such a helter-skelter situation!  However, the Master Architect possesses a powerful tool that brings PERSPECTIVE and ORDER into the curious chaos of the construction zone.  It is THE BLUEPRINT – and it works!  Carefully prepared architectural renderings calibrate and coordinate the overwhelming variety of tools, tasks and tradespersons that operate simultaneously in what appears to be an unequivocal mess.  

Now hear this!  The clear vision and expectations of the Master Architect only reach fruition in the presence of deliberate and purposeful multi-tasking.  The fact that there is a virtual army of workers and an endless array of materials constantly flowing in and out, with so many diverse tasks concurrently in the works, causes the construction panorama to ‘LOOK’ and ‘FEEL’ completely OUT OF CONTROL.  Can you mentally picture the confusion and craziness of the construction zone?  Stop for one moment; close your eyes and visualize.  Do you SEE it?  And do you know that OUR GOD is THE MASTER ARCHITECT and the ULTIMATE MULTI-TASKER?  Appearances notwithstanding, HE never fails to breathe order, purpose, confidence and completion into our LIFE PROCESSES via the DIVINE BLUEPRINT OF HIS WILL AND WORD.  What a phenomenal Spirit is he!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!