Daily
Revelation 7:13-17 (NIV)
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from? 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eye.
Good morning!
Every year, I look forward to working the “Christmas puzzle.” This has become a time-honored tradition in our home. Many years ago, a dear friend told me that I needed to “practice” putting puzzles together. I simply wasn’t very good at it. I had trouble seeing how the different shapes fit together. The colors were all so similar, and I couldn’t distinguish between its subtle hues. I like detail and intricacy, and the finished product never ceases to amaze. It’s kind of like writing a story or knitting a sweater – you just never know how it may turn out until you add the very last stitch. Putting that last piece into the puzzle brings a sense of accomplishment to all who labor to bring it to life.
Working puzzles can become a love/hate relationship for my children. It challenges our creativity, and sometimes holds us to our chairs longer than we would have liked to sit. We literally spend hours together, pouring over each piece and trying to see the bigger picture together. My grown children are quick at putting large puzzles together. When we work together, it can actually cut the puzzle construction time in half.
Some of my favorite pieces of art are the puzzles we’ve put together. I invest a little money in a good frame, non-glare glass, and a perfect matting to enhance its lifespan. Every time I hang a Christmas puzzle, I am reminded of the hours we spent together creating a beautiful work of art that now decorates our homes. I couldn’t help but notice yesterday, how our family continues to grow and expand with each new piece being added every year. We were not all together this time. Some of our most important pieces were missing. My brother-in-law is in the hospital, suffering with a pulmonary embolism. Two of my boys, my sister, niece, son and son-in-law, were working, helping others on Christmas Day. My father has not been with us for eleven Christmases now, and yet, the memory of his life fuels our fellowship each year. He would have loved having seen all the grand babies and great nieces. If he had been here, I imagine he would have been on the floor, rolling around with them, and playing like a little kid himself.
The Apostle John was trying to wrap his mind around the future vision. As he walked alongside the angel, John simply could not comprehend who those people were, standing there in their white robes, praising God. The angel replied, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” [Rev. 7:14] They are the ones whose lives were given in martyrdom to faith in Christ. They survived the most horrific of all circumstances, and suffered cruel and inhumane deaths to carry the Gospel message in the world. They were refined by fire, and now are clothed in Christ’s righteousness alone. Their finished art form is the most magnificent of all and completes God's masterful handiwork.
Our lives are intricate pieces of humanity's puzzle. In His creation, we embrace the love of God through His only Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our puzzle pieces may have rough edges now and our unique shapes may not seem to fit well together, at first. As we continue to grow in grace and learn to love each other, we watch in wonder as He places our life’s piece in the proper place at just the right moment in history. He is recreating a beautiful work - His Work of art for our lives. We are all important to Him, every piece critical to the completed design.
If you struggle today to see the bigger picture, may I encourage you today to begin a brand new tradition. Put a Christmas puzzle together with your family. See how the pieces of history fit perfectly into God’s master plan. Pursue the finished product with everything you’ve got. At just the right moment, God can take a transformed heart and give you a brand new robe, purified in Christ. We will one day stand in His righteousness alone. His puzzle will be complete and beautiful to behold. What we may not see clearly now is being formed in the palm of the Master’s hand.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC -
Pray for: vision, to see His bigger picture! Every person has a special and unique place in the Father’s creative work. Let us celebrate God’s family today. Together, we can fulfill His call on our lives, if we are willing to persevere through a little tribulation.
___________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
