 300 was the number on the box. Except this puzzle came with a bonus -- duplicate -- piece.
How often in life we want. What we have is not enough. More money or success or entertainment would make life worthwhile. And we strike out on a quest to obtain that 301st piece. The relationships with my spouse, children, and parents can wait. Let me amuse myself. God will understand this compromise. Don't I have to be a good employee? That church event will come around next year. This is a can't miss opportunity. Can't afford to tell that person about Jesus. I've got to keep up appearances. With that 301st piece -- we are sure -- that we will have enough. It will bring fulfillment and happiness and purpose. Only it never does. Once we have it, we know: it looked sure flashy right before it fizzled. The good it promised evaporated, and we were left holding the bill. And as we look back at our original pieces, they demonstrate the truth: God is (and always will be) our fulfillment, joy, and hope. 300 pieces were enough -- because the God who gave them is always enough.  How often do we hear God’s attributes, but with limited hearing? Like words missing a letter – the whole meaning changes. We can recite of litany of Who God is – God is good, patient and kind. He is our Savior, Provider, and King. He protects, loves, and guides us.
But we hear those words with letters missing – with our own caveats. To our dull ears, good means God gives me what I want. He’s patient, so He won’t punish me. King means in heaven, but for now I’m in charge. Protection means I will physically be preserved. It never crosses our hearing that protection isn’t always physical – it could be emotional, and it definitely includes spiritual. It never occurs to us that the Lord’s Kingship of heaven requires our submission on earth. And while we are willing to say patience includes firm correction for others, for me no way! And on that subject, we know love includes saying “no”. But we “know” it the best for us, so God would never tell us no! We listen, but we are hard of hearing (Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:17, and Hebrews 5:11). And it's not a matter of listening harder, it's a matter of hearing what God has already said.  Doesn't it look like he's posing for the camera? Because what else could you possibly want to take a picture of?
Too often, I am like this grasshopper. Life is all about me -- and feeling good about me -- and enjoying me -- and me, me, and more me. But life isn't about me, isn't about Christ. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." -- John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. |
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
February 2025
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