A Future Completed Work

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:13

No matter what your vocation or hobby or interests, we will all have tasks and projects to undertake. Most of us in the workplace are given assignments with deadlines. I am currently working on a marketing advertisement for a local Heating/Cooling owner and wonderful saint of the Lord. I have been given a deadline and am trying to complete it beforehand.

Many times though we get hindered or do not complete the projects given us. To complete a project we must put continual effort into it. Sometimes we have trouble getting started and we give up. Sometimes we get discouraged at the end when it does not turn out right. However, many experts agree that the crucial barrier in any project completion is about the mid point. Half way through is when we get the most hindered. At first we had great enthusiasm, but that quickly wears off when we start getting into the hardships and obstacles. At this point it seems that the end is so far off and the beginning didn't seem like that long ago.

The Heavenly Father on the other hand does not see us as we see our earthly projects. He sees us as the completed task and is willing to put the constant effort into us to bring us up to the finished product. There are perhaps better Scripture references for this topic such as Philippians 1:6, but the phrase in this 1 Thessalonians passage seems to fit, "to the end may He establish your heart." God has a desire for you and me. This desire does not wane and He fully intends to complete it with no lack of zeal.

Here are three areas to consider our lives as works in progress.

1. The Father knows that ongoing progress is necessary over immediate completion.
Many people wonder, "if God is omnipotent and really interested in perfecting me, why does He not go ahead and take me to Heaven?" If God did this, then we would have no effective service in the world. God put us in this world to be His representatives. The task is by far awesome to think of, but is no less unimportant. If we were completed works living in the world, we would not be an effective witness either. Suppose we were walking perfection incarnate, who would be attainable to us? Even though we are saved, we are still in the flesh. I think God allows us to be weak so we can relate to weak people. To the Christian's detriment, we have purported ourselves to be exclusively holy, which in reality we have the holiness of God, but not in this body. Thus we have alienated ourselves from the unsaved world. The world fears being shamed if they walk into a "sacred church." They see the looks of self righteousness they get from redeemed folks, who, are not totally perfected in this body themselves. We use the holiness of God upon us wrongly. We still sin, we are still weak, yet we are not condemned. In all this we can easily slip into living the perfected life in an imperfect body and an imperfect world. God knows that the more we are worked upon the better we will become. Just like a plaster or concrete mold that has been poured, it needs to age and cure to ensure better strength, rather than call it completed before its time.

2. We have Someone who does not tire in His work.
The resulting look of the craft, solely depends on the intent and energies of the Craftsman. A project that has been done hurriedly or haphazardly shows glaringly. If we half heatedly go about constructing or completing our tasks, we show ourselves to be the poor character and deportment as portrayed in our work. When God works on us He does so with His greatest skill applied. If we have a project that goes on for some time to complete, we tend some days to put our full resolve into it, on other days, we sort of slack off. God on the other hand, puts His full effort every day into us. His Character could do no less. His "arms" do not ache. His purpose in each of us does not inspire fatigue.

3. We have His attention and constant effort to show us His love.
Another area that would potentially cause a lack of continual work is that the project in the eyes of the creator has lost the interest it once held. Do you feel as if God has lost interest in you? Do you think that God has given up on you? I think we all have been there before. Some of us may be there now. The truth is according to the passage, that God has the desire to see each of us through because He loves us. In fact there is nothing to take away God's attention. No greater fancy or ambition keeps God's attention away from us. Suppose that God had a workshop, like a carpenter shop, (this is so relevant in knowing Him, it was a metaphor of His working with mankind as He did in the shop) and that He has a shelf. On this shelf were half completed projects such as clocks with no movements, picture frames with no channels cut, machines with only half the gears, etc. These projects sit on the shelf year after year with heavy layers of dust and spider webs growing over them. What does this image tell us? That God has put us aside in the pursuit of something better and that our lives are not as important enough to complete. In seeing this we could correctly surmise that the love of God has failed. Now this is how we can treat God, but it is never the way God treats us. If we are "set aside" for a season its not that He doesn't love us anymore, its because we are unwilling to be worked on. But God always has that heart for us and actively works on us for completion.

Let us be glad that God has not given up on us for any reason and that we will be part of a great rejoicing for what He has perfected in us. Not only His rejoicing, but our rejoicing at being finally completed.

Father thank You for your constant care and love for us. Thank You for all the work You put into us and are not willing to cast us aside. Help us to be workable in our daily lives. Help us to be gently taught by the instruction of Your Word. In your Name, Amen.

Image source

The Plentiful Harvest

Well its October! My favorite month of the year, mainly because it spells the end of summer, which because of the heat I greatly detest. Not just the changing seasons, the color of leaves, the cooler temperatures, the holidays forthcoming, etc. say as much as does the time of Harvest. God intended when He created the seasons for there to be a time of sowing and working, and then a time of reaping, or enjoying the product of your labors. Such time is called Harvest. The photo here was taken from a local farm produce market out a little ways from our church. There must have been thousands of pumpkins, mums, corn fodder bundles, you name it. As I was staring at the bounty of all these goods I am reminded that we here in America are living in the land of Plentiful Harvest.

If only the Pilgrims could see far into the future all of what God allowed and afforded us today! I wonder if they would be amazed and/or non-chalant about all this we have. I say this because though I believe they would be amazed, yet they knew when they survived the first hard winter in Massachusetts, that God was in control and there was no limit to what He can do and what He can bless a people with. Let's address three areas of "Pre-Thanksgiving" items in the areas of Harvest.

First, of course there is an earthly harvest. Praise God that He knows we cannot live on just bread alone, we need the Word of God, however He knows we need the bread too.

God sees fit to bless us here in America with more food and vegetables than we can take in. I believe this is all the result of our foundations upon honoring God at the inception of our country. Of course now we see our country's moral and spiritual state in a ragged unrepairable condition. Yet in all this we still reap the goodness of God. The Psalmist David said that he had never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for food. How good it is to know that God will provide our daily needs and also those things we desire that aligns with His best for us.

Secondly, there is an inward bodily Harvest. Do you stop and take time to thank Him for every little detail in life? We should. That would take hours you may think. You would be right, but certainly He is worthy of it. Everything we have, own, eat, work at, accomplish, are rewarded for, everything right down to the air we breathe and the lungs to breathe it with is from God's hand. Know this, no matter what your view of God is (hopefully its positive) He is good to you because you are living and breathing, this is a privilege from Him so taken for granted today. We should take the time to thank Him for the growth of our bodies and strength of our muscles to dust the house, mow the lawn, vacuum the house, drive the car, type on the computer, cook the meals, make the beds, work at whatever you do. Our bodily harvest is the product of our hands work. Whenever you complete a project, that is your harvest. Our minds and intellect as well as our physical members all combined to reap that which you have worked at. This may be as simple as typing a report, or it could be as large as building a house, but all in all it is the harvest of reaping what God has allowed you to do by your labors.

Then there is most certainly a Spiritual Harvest. There is so much that can be said here. We harvest this type all the time. There are essentially two Spiritual Harvests. The most recognized are our daily triumphs, victories and of course, "fruit" that we see of our personal growth and the effects it has on others around you to whom you minister. The other Harvest is the one great day of reward as spoken of in Matthew 16:27. The question arises here, will there be a Harvest in you Spiritually? Are you planting a Spiritual Crop that will be harvested. So many believers all over the world are satisfied to be saved and then not produce any works to evidence such a salvation. This is dangerous for many points but certainly none other than the fact that Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-20 that by your fruits people will know whether or not you are indeed Redeemed. So how do we prepare for a bountiful Spiritual Harvest both now and in the future? Here are some ways.

• Read Your Bible---of the paramount importance is the act so simple. You cannot grow in God if you know nothing about Him as revealed to you in His Word


• Seek God in Prayer--how shall we relate to God our thoughts and needs as well as hear from Him if we do not talk to Him on a daily basis?


• Seek ways to share your Faith in Christ--The Gospel hid is worthless to those who need to hear it if we keep it shut up and never share it.


• Sacrifice your time to help the body of Christ--Christ gave totally of Himself, so He also desires that we do our part, sharing what we have, to nourish and encourage one another for His Glory.


• Give your resources for His use--this is different than giving time, but literally your money or possessions to help further God's work and provide for the real needs of His people.


• Make the most of your gifts in service to God--each of us has talents and abilities that others do not have. We do this not to puff ourselves up, but show the world there is something different in you and that is Christ. Put to use these talents to further the Gospel and thereby reach out to others in tangible ways


• Don't forsake the assembly of yourselves in the Church--you show that you love God by readily anticipating the day of meeting and worship to Him.

This is a small list of what can be done. No matter though the list of suggestions you read, you must understand we do not labor solely for our own reward...we do it for the furtherance of Christ's Kingdom and His Glory. However, God is not unjust to reward labor done for Him. We understand that we shall be rewarded but its not our most important goal.

The Harvest of the Spirit will not be fully realized until we get to Heaven. However, in this world we have the joy of seeing souls redeemed by God through our witness. We see needs met, hearts encouraged, families strengthened, missionaries sent, praises uttered, and hope conquering despair. These are but a shadow of the reward that awaits. If we do not sow these now, we shall not have anything to offer Christ from our Harvest and He will have nothing to reward us with in return.

Harvest time is a time of plenty. As we see the Earth settle in its time of reaping, take time to review how thankful we need to be in our own reaping of the creation, the body, and the spirit. If you have not spent much time in God's Harvest fields (as we all could spend more) then refocus your priorities to include the Lord's work, as His Work so wondrously included you.

Father in Heaven, Giver of all that is good from Your Hand. Help us to be more thankful at the reaping of the Harvest you have for us. Thank you that you're not a tyrant who cares nothing for those under You, but you sacrificed Your own Son for our sakes. We are the one's undeserving, help us to remember this and in gratitude serve You and help others to not only come to You as Lord and Savior, but to help reap a bountiful harvest in the fields of life. One day this world for each of us will end, work will be no longer done, help us Father to serve faithfully so one day we may reap bountifully. Thank you Father. In your Holy Name. Amen.