03 January 2010

Mega-Reno-Makeovers

John 14:1-3 NLT
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.


There are many home improvement shows on the cable channels these days. The programs showcase D-Y-I’ers, flippers, stagers, and mega-reno’ers, etc. In my opinion, these shows are the higher end of the reality-TV spectrum television programming has morphed into.

I enjoy watching some these programs. I’ve learned things from these shows. Some of the most valuable new knowledge I’ve acquired falls into the what-not-to-do category. For instance, a woman set out to open up her own Shoppe. She and her husband were on a tight budget of both money and time. They contracted a group to manage the renovation of the Shoppe’s space to get the new business up and running. The couple set a dollar amount they wanted with work within. The professionals reviewed their plans and wish list and after they finalized the scope of work, the dollar amount increased by 30%. Even with this substantially higher budget, it was going to be very tight. The business owners insisted they could do some things on their own, and that would help to free up some of the cash.

Work commenced and the job progressed nicely and within the time frame the professionals estimated. Then it came time for the owners to get started on their part of the project. They both committed to working during the evenings and on the weekend. It did not take them long to figure out they made a bad decision, that they took on more work than they had the knowledge and skills to complete.

Not only did they delay the project, but also they ended up having to pay the professionals to redo what they did poorly. If they had followed the advise of the professionals (and their friends), and applied common sense, they would have saved a substantial amount of money. This decision to do things their way ended up costing them additional money in materials and labor, and, it delayed the grand opening of the business resulting in lost sales they counted on for their first month of operation.

This couple learned at great expense that they were not capable of accomplishing what they thought they could do themselves. They could have avoided all the anxiety and anguish they put themselves through by turning that small phase of the job over to the pros right from the beginning. Isn’t that the way it goes, though; in the end, cutting corners usually results in higher costs?

Some people resist surrendering to the Savior and try to do life like a D-I-Y project because they feel the cost to follow Him is too high. Dear friends, we cannot work our way into the Kingdom of Heaven. We can’t cut corners or do things our own way. We can’t do this ourselves. Jesus is the only way to the Father. “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT) Yes, it’s good to do good deeds, but you won’t gain access to Heaven through good deeds, regardless of how many or the quality of the craftsmanship.

Jesus completed the job (fulfilled the prophecies and scriptures) the day he sacrificed his life on the cross. He paid our sin debt. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit starts to re-build our lives, changing us gradually, a little each day. He changes our thoughts and desires, and we won’t miss the things we were hesitant to give up. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT. God does not promise a life free of splinters, but He does promise that He will always be with us. He will continue working on us until the end. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 NLT

How fitting that Jesus was a carpenter! Carpenters build and remodel homes. Jesus is building the Kingdom, and remodeling lives. No human effort can come close to what He has done and continues to do. No budget can meet the price he paid for our extreme makeover. So why not let Jesus do in your life what He was sent into this world to do? Let him start today!


Haggai 1:13 (New Living Translation)
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”

John 3:16-17 (New Living Translation)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect

Isaiah 41:10 (New Living Translation)
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand

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