“In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22
Coming from the East I had an appointment on the Island of Venice. As I approached the first of only 3 roads to get there, I noted the traffic was backed up for half a mile. It was lunchtime and the bridge was up. Over the years I’ve come to believe that some rich slobs just enjoy yachting AND probably relish the fact that the whole Island has to wait just for them! So I took a detour.
Heading south on 41 bypass, I figured it would be quicker to go all the way down and come UP from the lower bridge. I hadn’t traveled a mile when I saw that road construction had shut everything down to a crawling 1 lane! Naturally I knew what I’d find. 1 crew of about a dozen men leaning on shovels…watching 1 guy run a machine! Disgusted, I shook my head, and suddenly felt God’s smack!
I was frustrated! So much so that I even blurted out loud in my truck, “HEY Look… I am busy! I’ve got places to go, people to see and ya’ll are IN MY WAY!” Then I felt the familiar smack AGAIN! As an experienced fool, there have been times I’ve had to get MUCHO smacked before Jesus had my attention. When I finally got it, I got it! It came in the form of this morning’s Bible verse.
I’m glad I’m not God. Among all the chaos and evil of the world, Jesus came down, slapped up a huge “Under Construction” sign in the form of a cross, and started interrupting everyone’s lives. Most don’t understand or CARE to understand WHY! Inconvenience pushes many toward the opinion of, ”How dare He! Doesn’t He know we have places to go and things to do!”
It was a genuine shock when I grasped this verse. ‘I’ am “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit!” HUH???? Read it again only put YOUR self in there! Among ALL the turmoil, sin, despair, evil and chaos…God created a Construction site! And His purpose is FOR ME!!!!!! All so that HE can LIVE WITH ME! Oh.. and YOU TOO, of course! Are you shocked!!!!
It’s about now that the implications have actually HIT ME! There IS a rich slob on a yachting journey, holding everything up. And that SLOB is ME!!! Oh.. and YOU TOO, of course! That is if you belong to Him. He is using EVERYTHING in life to Build His home IN ME. And when I finally understand what all the FUSS is about, I am embarrassed at my whining. Because it really IS…all about ME! Oh.. and YOU TOO, of course!
Is God working on YOU?