The Mundane and Miraculous

As a carpenter for decades my dad has worked on many impressive sites.  One notable home he helped build in Julian was featured in San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine described as "zero-carbon-footprint, fireproof, concrete house with an observation tower and compound curves everywhere."  It is like a house I have never seen which masterfully combines vision, building skills, architecture with artistry and stunning presentation.  The opportunity to work on such a grand and monumental design is a rare privilege because the house is so unique.  For a builder it is an honour to contribute labour and lend skills to complete a project of overwhelming quality and scope.

It is easy to be impressed by the pictures of magazine-worthy homes in person or on glossy pages, yet the kingdom of God is far more glorious being divine and eternal.  However, the kingdom of God in this world under Satan's sway is not as glamorous:  it involves walking by faith in Jesus and not by sight.  Jesus did not come to earth in His unrivaled glory but as a baby born of a virgin in Bethlehem.  The builders of Babel were able to see the slow progress of their efforts, yet children of God may not see any tangible results of their prayers or labouring in the word of God for decades.  The workers in a vineyard could see the grapes they harvested and felt their baskets growing heavy.  Those who scatter the good seed of God's word to others may never see the seed take root or germinate.  All the time the servants of God do not seek recognition for themselves because we live to glorify our Saviour and Rock of Salvation Jesus Christ.  The glory of the house my dad helped build can be seen by our eyes and will in time fade; the glory of the kingdom of Jesus Christ yet to be revealed in fullness will increase in glory forever.

How humbling it is to be a worker in the kingdom of God!  God does not need us but has chosen to use us.  Have you noticed all the times in scripture miracles done by God involved objects which had no power in themselves?  Moses cast a tree into the bitter waters of Marah to make them sweet and drinkable (Exodus 15:23-26).  Elisha  threw flour in a poisoned pot of stew and God made it edible (2 Kings 4:38-44).  The prophet threw salt into the spring at Jericho and God healed the waters to this day (2 Kings 2:19-22). He also threw a stick into water and caused a borrowed axe-head to float to the surface (2 Kings 6:4-7).  Jesus placed mud on the eyes of a blind man and told him to go and wash and miraculously was able to see (John 9:6-7).  Normally adding salt does not make water more drinkable, nor does mud on the eyes help to see better.  In all these cases a common, mundane object was chosen to be used sovereignly by God to accomplish His miraculous, redemptive purposes.

Do you see how we are like the tree cast into the water, the flour thrown into stew, or mud applied to the eyes of the blind?  We are nothing in ourselves but according to God's will He uses us to contribute to His glorious kingdom.  All glory to God who has created all things for His good pleasure and will create a new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells.  By grace through faith in Jesus sinners are born again and endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit who gifts us and makes us fruitful.  Having been given fellowship with God we are enabled to contribute to the glory of God's kingdom.  There was no power in the stick, salt, or mud to do the miraculous:  that is God's glorious domain and He delights to employ us to do His amazing, awe-inspiring works with glory which will be revealed in due time.