Missives

Borrowed Tools.  Over the years I have been collecting tools using a decision process when I first became a homeowner:  if I can buy the tool for less than the cost of any minor repair job, I will buy the tool and learn to do it myself. Over time, I collect both the knowledge and the tools needed for various home repair tasks.  It has served me well.

This tool collection apparently was coveted by the various tradesmen who came to work with their shoddy old beat-up tools.  At first, I didn’t mind loaning my better tool for their use; after all, it was for the benefit of my addition. What I quickly learned was the reason why their tools were so beat up, yet mine stayed in good shape.  They didn’t know how to use them properly.  I must have lost over $400 worth of tools while on loan, either due to outright breakage, or unexplained disappearances (i.e., theft).

God is smart.  In the gospel, no unbeliever is permitted to use His main tool, the preaching of His word. For instance, a damsel possessed with a spirit of divination … followed Paul, crying, ‘These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation’.  She had the right message; yet though the content was correct, she was an unfit vessel since unbelievers can’t be evangelists.  The Apostle Paul was grieved, rebuked the devilish spirit out of her, and she became quiet.  Another man in the synagogue saw Jesus and cried out, I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.  What a testimony! Surely we might want this fellow on our evangelism team.  Yet Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit in him, saying Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Even after Jesus healed a great many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; yet He suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him. That’s curious. The Bible’s clear record is that these devils knew Christ, yet it was not in God’s good pleasure, purpose or plan for devils to be heralds.  Luke notes Jesus’ same restrictions as he saw devils coming out of those whom the Lord healed, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ. 

In God’s good providence, He hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. The tools of this sacred job aren’t entertainment, a worldly lit-up music stage with a kickin’ band, a profanely dressed worship leader (i.e., a feel good stage performer), or vain promises of economic prosperity, political freedom, and personal health.  It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. May we joyfully use God’s tool to His glory, thanking Him for this privilege.

The Servant.  I grew weary of contractors coming through and causing rework. It seems patching or re-painting was required every week.  The biggest offender was the plumber.  There was a single water connection left, and a simple one at that.  He just needed to attach the supply line to the toilet.  This was a 3-minute job at most. After connecting it, the toilet wouldn’t fill up, just a tiny drip, drip, drip.  He took the hose off, and even cut the valve off the wall, still no pressure.  He tore several holes in the finished wall before finding the culprit: a pipe he filled with too much glue which blocked the flow.  A 3-minute job became a 3-day delay. I looked forward to their departure.

Even so, the Lord has servants in His house who provide a measure of value but won’t be there forever.  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.  Jesus said to some unbelieving Jews, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. The day will come when all the servants are gone, and only family members are allowed.  Glorious day!

Completed Plans.  The end of the job finishes with the archival process. There were many printed plans and permits, and it was time to discard some and store others away for future reference. Blueprints were no longer needed because the house was built. Even so, when Christ came to fulfill the OT, it was put away.  The first tabernacle … was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. But Christ being come … a greater and more perfect tabernacle … by His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. All the OT prototypes and figures no longer serve their purpose.  The Son is here!