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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
Five days to go. I sit here surrounded by boxes, in a sterile, almost empty apartment and wait. Oh, there are still last minute things to do, people to say goodbye to, and details to look after. But basically I can be ready at any moment to walk out the door with my bags and not look back.

The trouble is, I don’t want to look forward either. I am in a state of limbo; a point in my life when I know I will not return to things as they were before, but nor am I going home to anything secure or permanent. When I turn over the keys to this apartment, I will have no home here. When I land at my destination, it will be as a gypsy, moving from place to place without time to root anywhere — on temporary assignment. This is not a comfortable feeling.

The task I am leaving is not the one to which I will return. I have a plan on paper for what I want to do with the rest of my working life, but that is all it is: A plan on paper. I can’t see how it will work, or even if it can work. If it can function, I am still left with doubts as high as my pile of boxes as to whether I am the one to make it work. This is not a comfortable feeling.

Then I sat down to have my devotions this morning and I came to the very last verse of the last chapter assigned for today: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands” (Psalm 138:8 NIV). Suddenly the mountain of boxes didn’t seem so high, the insecurity of life and ministry less daunting. “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.” There isn’t any greater security than that. It’s funny though, the psalmist writes this phrase with such assurance and then follows it with a plea that reflects his fears: “Do not abandon the works of your hands”. How very human of him!

I am such a contradiction; so bold one minute and so chicken-hearted the next. I guess that’s why the middle of the verse is so important. God’s love never wears thin in spite of my contradictions. If He says He will fulfill His purpose in me that is exactly what He will do, though it would be much more comfortable for me if I were leaning more in the direction of the first part of the verse and less toward the second half.

Beside the phrase: “his purpose” is a little letter written in italics. That tiny “q” led me to a cross reference and then to Philippians 1:6 (NIV): “ … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.

Double whammy, but please hit me again!

I waver more than I care to admit; God doesn’t. I have more uncompleted projects than I will own up to no matter who applies the thumbscrews; God doesn’t. He started this project called “Me”, and He will finish it. Best of all, it will be a “good work”.

What God starts, He always finishes well; without doubts, without wavering. He’s the perfect Box Cutter.
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This article has been read 1623 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sherril Wendling
06/05/06
Great piece--honest and well-written. I can identify with the contradictions: "so bold one minute and so chicken-hearted the next". I love your picture of Jesus as the Box Cutter!
Jan Ackerson
06/05/06
Great job with the extended metaphor! And a really creative, attention-grabbing title.
Joanne Malley
06/05/06
You're title drew me in and the rest of the story didn't disappoint. Great job. Love the vision of Jesus as the box cutter. Cute.
Edy T Johnson
06/05/06
Thank you for being so human, yourself! Our struggles, times of testing, daily living all drive us to the cross, where we belong!
"Plastic saints" might inspire us, but it is the honesty of a Corrie ten Boom that has always filled my anxious heart with joy and hope for pushing on to the goal. Thank you for bringing us along on your own journey!
Ann Stocking
06/06/06
"He started this project called “Me”, and He will finish it. Best of all, it will be a “good work”."

Thank God that He does finish us... and that He does ALL things well! very well written... you kept my attention from beginning to end.
George Parler 
06/06/06
Creative expression of God's infinite love and complete work in us. Good job.
Joe Moreland
06/06/06
I love how you dissected the verse, showing us the psalmist's contradictory feelings of confidence in God's purpose and fear of God's abandonment. Then you showed us how those two human elements are sandwiched around the permanance of God - which can be the anchor for all of our human feelings. Very nice job of presenting this verse in such an insightful perspective. Not bad writing, either. :>)
Debra Brand 
06/06/06
Very good encouraging Word.