“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (Philippians 1:3-6 The Message Bible)
On a main, busy street, there stands a structure that has not yet been completed. The work started out well; construction on schedule, for this multi-story building. Many of the steps of building such a structure had been accomplished. I’m not a civil engineer or a building construction expert, but just by looking I can see that many of the steps in building this multi-story structure had been done. Planning had been accomplished, which included the intent of continuing the work until it was complete. Excavation had taken place and rough places had been made smooth. The required material for the early stages had been acquired. A foundation had been laid out. Steel beams demand your attention as they define the layout of the building. I’m sure more than I can identify was done, initially. Everything was off to a good start, and it looked like the investment of time and resources would pay off in the end. But at some point, approximately six years ago, the work stopped. The work has yet to be continued. Will it ever be resumed? I hope so, but after six years, admittedly my doubts are trying to strangle my hope for the initial vision to be completed.
Think of the contrast. One day you accepted Christ, and excitedly you started out on your Christian journey. You were following some necessary steps. You brought Bibles and even began a Christian library. You had plans to stay on the Christian journey until. Yes, let’s just say “until.” You moved out some rough places in your life and smoothed out some rocky ways, readjusted your preferences, and prioritized new goals for living. You laid a solid foundation in your diligent study. You invested time in church related activities and your fellow saints were among your resources. Come on now, tell the truth! Your hope was unrestrained and your ability to make righteous choices was uninhibited…initially.
My hope is that you are one who is continuing the work, aiming still toward completion with the help of the Lord. I pray that you are not like the structure project described above where all of a sudden, for whatever reason, the work stopped. I hope you are not one who lost the zeal to keep building on your Christian character and saintly character. Many have, but it would be good news to hear or even see that you have not abandoned your role in completing the unfinished work.
Well, why are you still sitting there? Get going! Go work on the structure that is you today! Either continue the work or resume the work! The Lord will be your site manager! Enjoy service physically, if possible, virtually, if necessary, but always spiritually! Be blessed!
“According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.” ―(I Corinthians 3:10-11 The Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King