The end result

Today’s Reading: John 12:31-32(NIV)

[Jesus said,] 31 “Now is the time for judgment on this world, now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

Good morning!

Last weekend, my husband Jeff and son David put together a set of bookshelves for our family room. We are avid readers, and the one thing we seem to lack is bookshelf space. I stopped by my favorite furniture store and purchased yet another set of cherry-stained ladder bookshelves to add to our collection. When the shelves were delivered, the kit came unassembled. Our son David has become pretty good at putting bookshelves together. He has had plenty of practice! While the assembly is similar to the other sets we own, there seems to be inconsistencies in cut and pattern. Sometimes, we have a hard time visualizing how the finished piece will look. In our limited vision, we only see individual parts and pieces. We wonder how we will use all those screws supplied with the kit. Once David moved the shelves to an upright position, they looked rather wobbly and insecure. It was not until David fastened the solid cross beam at the back of the unit that the shelves took its finished form. The crossbeam gave the needed support to these bookshelves so they could stand strong under the heavy weight of the added books on its shelves.

Do you ever struggle to see the end result?

Jesus was speaking about his imminent death and resurrection. He had come to earth for this moment in time – to bring judgment upon the prince of the world and drive him out of humanity’s hearts. Christ would be lifted up from the earth on a crossbeam, and all the world would be drawn to Him. Everyone there was thinking the same thing: Jesus had come to Jerusalem to overthrow the Roman government. His rule would usher in a season of peace and prosperity; persecution would finally come to an end. They could see the plan unfold, piece by piece; yet, they did not understand the Master’s perfect plan of salvation.

It took a crossbeam to hold the weight of humanity’s sin on a tree. It took the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ to reconcile sinful hearts to a sinless Father. It was His love that He chose to die on the cross to save you and me our present state of sin and separation. Without this sacrifice, we wouldn’t have a solid foundation to stand on. It is the crossbeam that draws our eyes toward Christ. Can you see the end result? Do you understand what Jesus Christ has done for you?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.