He’s not Done. I herd a fine man once say, "God isn’t finished with me yet." How many here like to work with their hands, you know, working with flowers, painting, building something that is special to you. Now it may not be important to some one else, just you. I always wanted a room, all to myself where I could read, write and Study, away from all outside distractions. Just because I didn’t get it when I wanted, I never gave up that dream of mine. After a while I got my room and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s my little corner of the world. Some times I’ve wondered weather anyone like me, my sermons, my teaching, my lessons or my commentary on the scriptures. Now for those that don’t, remember, God is still working on me. Weather a man is a king or a bum on the street, we can’t give up on them, maybe God is still working on them also. A man once told me that he was being saved, not that he wasn’t already. I didn’t understand for a while but then it came to me. As we endure each day, the troubles, trials and tribulations we are being saved each day. Being saved from our own lust and desires of the flesh and not of the spirit. Then I guess that the statement was correct. Is there something that you don’t like about your neighbor, your friends, your co-workers, or even about your pastor? Do people talk about you also when you aren’t around, is there something about you that others don’t like. Where you once an alcoholic, drug user, gambler, at one time or another God worked, and still is working, on all of us. When a man starts to build his dream home, does he stop in the middle of construction just because some one else doesn’t like it? Jesus once said, that a man doesn’t build a house until he counts the cost. We don’t dig up our flowers just because some doesn’t like them, we don’t burn a house down just because someone else doesn’t like the color, and God doesn’t give up on someone just because they make mistakes. Lets read, 2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Remember where we are and turn to Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Has being a Christian been difficult at times, you know, people separating themselves from you and, those who used to be your friends are no longer there, your attitude has changed, the things that once brought you pleasure are no longer enjoyable, just different things? Then what is perfection? The state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; as perfection in an art or science; perfection in a system of morals.
1. Physical perfection, is when a natural object has all its powers, faculties or qualities entire and in full vigor, and all its parts in due proportion.
2. Metaphysical or transcendental perfection is the possession of all the essential attributes or all the parts necessary to the integrity of a substance. This is absolute, where all defect is precluded, such as the perfection of God; or according to its kind, as in created things.
3. Moral perfection is the complete possession of all moral excellence, as in the Supreme Being; or the possession of such moral qualities and virtues as a thing is capable of.
4. A quality, endowment or acquirement completely excellent, or have great worth.
I have worked in steel all my life, my dad, uncle, brother all my family for years. I’ve found out when steel is changed from one shape to another, it resist change of any kind. It’s strong and doesn’t want to be placed in a state that is contrary to its original shape. That steel will moan and groan and make all kinds of ear shattering noises but in the end, the one that forms the steel wins over, sometimes with great effort and sometimes it took more than one try. Some of the problems that many Christians face are the same thing with them and God. God wants to form and the Christian wants to remain the same as he started. Some times I had to use heat to get that steel to bend or shape, maybe God is putting the heat on you and the church. As the heat goes up the temper of the steel gets softer and eventually yields to change. We must all yield to God, who by virtue of His Excellency is putting on the heat to change us into that perfect form that He desires. You may not like the way someone else speaks, looks, dresses, acts but still remember, if they are under the forming hands of the Creator they will change. Who then are we to tell the potter what to make out of the clay, who are we to tell the steel maker what to make out of the steel, weather to make something good or evil, beautiful or ugly, straight or curved. It’s all up to the former, the orator, or finisher. Gods’ hands are at work each and every day, working on me, changing, forming, shaping and refining me as He is with others. The refiners fire is not extinguished until all changes are made. Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? We must all be careful when we start pointing fingers at others, God works in His time and in His way and we, as in Romans 9:21, must remember that only God has the power to change a heart. There is not one instance that man has ever changed his own heart. God is always in charge. We cannot change one hair, one inch or one item in our bodies that isn’t controlled by God. We can’t even come to Christ, unless we are drawn by the spirit, so those that say, "Ill come to Jesus when I feel I’ve done all I can." Are deceiving themselves. God is the potter and we are just the clay. We are all subject to change. My little room, is designed to please God and then me, your lives must be formed to please God and not man. The things that I write and preach are formed to please God, your flowers and homes and clothing are formed to please the creator, which, in this natural life, is you. No man, having created a thing of beauty, destroys it or hides it, so that no one else can view what he has created. And that is the nature of God. He doesn’t create beauty, nor perfection, just to hide or destroy it. I remember a time in my youth that I started to build a home for my family and me. The neighbors complained and ranted and raved and wanted me to give up, "You’ll never be able to make something out of it." They would say. Now if I had listened to them, that house would have been abandoned, the weeds would have grown up around it and my children would never have had a place to call home. But thru persistence and hard work, a little moaning and groaning, it took shape and finally when it was finished, it was just as good as the other houses in the neighborhood, people stopped complaining and went to find someone else to complain about. Now what if God would have listened to others about you, " God, he will never amount to any thing, no body likes her God, and I think they will never be a Christian, Just look at all that they’ve done." Now ask yourself, aren’t you glad that the Potter never gave up on you? Just remember, if people don’t like you, don’t like your life, just tell them, "God is still working on me." ars
