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Nathan Martin
I'm taking out a couple of words from the last part of Ephesians
2:11 in the New Living Translation to make an interesting point:
the Jews [...] were proud of their circumcision, even though
it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. [Eph
2:11 NLT]
Outward appearance is important to a lot of people. They often
seek to make changes that are only cosmetic and don't deal with the
deeper issues of the heart. But God is always more concerned with
the heart than the wrapper that is around it.
My wife and I have been remodeling
our house lately. Like many projects of this nature, it could
easily become a nightmare. For example, the single most frustrating
problem we're having is with repairs made by the previous homeowner
that dealt only with cosmetic issues and not with the true problems.
I've had to replace completely rotten studs, headers and base plates
in walls that were covered with pretty wallpaper. The damage could
not be seen but it was there. I've had to spend extra money to
repair things that were previously "repaired" but only
cosmetically.
Another example is the wiring in the house. Now, I'm no
electrician and I don't even play one on TV.  But
I know better than to make electrical connections just by taping
them together with black electrical tape and then putting wood
paneling up over the taped connections. That how houses get burned
down! In the past weeks I've had to redo more than a dozen bad
connections, purchasing electrical boxes and wire nuts, making the
proper connections and making sure they are shielded from the
surrounding flammable objects by good electrical boxes. And don't
get me started talking about faulty or missing grounds!
My house was an electrical fire waiting to happen! Thank God for
His grace! Now that we're remodeling, we've just about rewired the
entire kitchen, dining and living rooms, getting them up to code.
Interestingly enough, it has not cost a lot of money. Electrical
boxes are less than a dollar apiece and wire nuts are cheap. It just
takes time. Time to do it right.
That's where some folks take short cuts. Dealing with the deeper
issues of the heart takes time and most folks seem to be looking for
a "quick-fix". They don't want to take the time to shape
and mold character. It's easier to make some dramatic outward change
that people can see and congratulate you on than to work on the
hidden man.
But God is willing to take all the time necessary to form the man
or woman of God. Look at Moses and the 40 years on the backside of
the desert. How about young David tending sheep, playing his harp
between fighting off bears and lions? He waited so long his dad
practically forgot him when it came time to call all his sons
together for Samuel to anoint a new king. And many people forget
that before the antagonist Saul could become the great apostle Paul,
he had to spend 3 years away from the limelight getting his heart
dealt with, a good part of that time in the backwaters of Arabia.
You see, God is not in as much of a hurry as we are. And He's
going to take whatever time is necessary to do the job right. Some
people thought He was taking too long to send the Messiah but
"when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,…
that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Gal
4:4a,5b) And some think God is taking too long to send Jesus
back for us, but "the Lord isn't really being slow about his
promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for
your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more
time for everyone to repent." (2
Peter 3:9 NLT)
My point is that God is willing to take the time necessary to
make sure you get your wiring right! He doesn't want your house to
burn down around you. And while some of the things being worked on
in our lives may seem tedious and even insignificant, to God, if
it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. Even if it takes longer
than we'd like.
As I write this, my house isn't finished. We've still got work to
do. But that's ok. Because in the end, it will definitely be worth
it. How about you? How's your wiring? Are you willing to take the
time to get it right? Don't be in a hurry. Let the Lord work His
process of molding and shaping in your life, no matter how long it
takes. You'll be glad you stayed plugged in to Him!
Nathan Martin is the Associate Pastor of Christian Challenge and
the director of the School for Christian Workers. He served four
years as a missionary to southern Mexico before returning to
minister with his father at CCI. He oversees the worship and
technology ministries and teaches the High School group along with
his wife Lori. They have three daughters, Joi, Faith and Hope.
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How's
Your Wiring?
