“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20 NASB)
The construction project known as the Big Dig in Boston (Massachusetts) was a highway project through the heart of the city through the Thomas O’Neil tunnel. The tunnel as you may know is located below the Boston Harbor. This grand project, referred to be some as a “mega project,” started in 1998, not including the pre-planning work, and was not complete until 2005. The cost for the project exceeded fourteen billion dollars. The elevated Central Artery had six lanes. The new underground expressway has eight to ten lanes. As you would guess, this project required the excavation of millions of cubic yards of dirt. Reports say the project placed enough concrete to stretch from Boston to San Francisco. After 2005 additional work was required; work related to the Big Dig project. One report says that close to 5,000 workers were employed, a significant group of skill, specialized, and courageous workers.
Now I’m not sharing this with you with no meaningful purpose in mind. This is not a history lesson. I’m not sharing this because on my travels to the Boston area, or because I personally experienced the need to change routes and driving habits because of the aforementioned project. Do you want to know why I’m sharing this with you? It is because we as believers are charged with the responsibilities of a different type of “Big Dig,” building the kingdom of God and paving the way to the ends of the earth for others to travel to an unparalleled destination. It is a “Big Dig” and the number of courageous, skilled, and specialize workers needed on this project, planned long ago by the Lord, makes the number of people needed for the Boston Big Dig look minuscule. So, we will need to recruit and grow our workforce. Notice I said “we.” We will need to use our skill (the knowledge of the Gospel), use our specialized training (in the word of God), and we must be courageous (going ye therefore). Our project is not done. More work is required. Our “Big Dig” continues! In the long run, we will gradually make our society and our individual communities and our own homes better off. Thus, the question posed to you on this Friday morning: “Will you dedicate yourself to our “Big Dig”? Start today then! You signed up long ago, right? Be blessed!
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2: 9 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King