Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. I John 3:2 NKJV
I am in the process of redoing my office. The plaster has all been replaced with drywall. I have new windows to install, and this week we bought paint and ordered carpet. Then there’s the new ceiling fan and light. Right now, though, it’s empty, useless, covered in drywall dust, and dark. It takes a special vision to see it for what it will be rather than what it is.
Now my office will be so much nicer when the windows are in. Then when it’s painted it will look brand new. The carpet will give it that finished look, but it won’t be my office until we move everything back in and I start to use it.
Then it hit me. We as believers are the same way. Jesus is doing a tremendous remodeling work in each of us. The theological name for that process is sanctification, and the truth is, it won’t be finished in this life. We will see huge changes and improvements, but we won’t be finished and fully ready for service until the next life.
It takes a very special vision to see ourselves and each other for what we will be – the way God sees us – rather than what we are now. In the meantime, maybe we can treat ourselves, and each other, with a little extra grace, knowing we are all works in progress. Yes, perfection will come, but not for a while. Best of all, I don’t have to make it happen. Neither do you.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB
Lauren says
Perfect analogy! Funny how life seems to show us things even when we don’t expect it. Or I guess it’s God trying to show it to us.
But it does make sense. We are being remodeled. And that’s encouraging to me. It’s really, really encouraging, because sometimes I’m really put down because I’m not “super Christian” and I can’t do everything all these other people can do. I haven’t started some charity that’s revolutionized a small country. I haven’t become an Internet sensation for God. I’m just me. Of course, my standard of what “super” is is far different from God’s. So I guess I’m me…but I’m not quite done yet. Great encouragement, thank you!