Constructive Construction (A Normal Christian Life)

This is the framing of the lower floors
of a planned 24-story office tower that will open its doors next year. It will
boast dramatic 360° views of San Francisco, the Oakland Hills, UC Berkeley, and
the surrounding areas. Shorenstein Properties ‘dubs’ it 601 City Center,
and I highlight ‘dubs’ because it's just a block away from the Golden State
Warriors headquarters. Shorenstein broke ground in Q2 of this year
and they expect to build for another couple of quarters. That’s about a year of
construction.


Occasionally, you might find a person or two staring at the work,
but, for the most part, people just walk by this everyday activity. Business as
usual.

We are more amazed when
buildings are demolished. We have a peculiar fascination with the quick
destruction of something grand. What takes months, maybe years, to build, can
be destroyed in only days, or even hours. Society pays more attention to the
quick fall of the mighty than it does the day-to-day, continued effort to
develop perhaps a high-rise tower, a business, a career, a church, a family, a
life. We often overlook the long-term benefit of day-to-day effort with respect to physical, social, emotional, or spiritual development. Instead,
we prefer that children just grow up, or that we finally have a gratifying job, or that life can just be better. But if it all happened too
fast, we would miss out on the norms and benefits of daily living.

If this
doesn’t characterize our spiritual journeys, maybe we aren’t truly on the
journey.

Jesus told His disciples,

“…In this world you will
have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Some Christians have
stunning testimonies of how Jesus saved them from sure demise, and they memorialize freedom from the grip of sin. We gravitate toward those stories and
marvel, rightfully, at the power of God. Similarly, there are others who are
quite popular and enjoy the attention and prestige that come with celebrity
status. (I think of pastors, musicians, and other notables.)  We like to sit at their feet or participate
in their ministries. People like that are gifts from God. They’re good and
necessary for the body of believers.

But a
greater percentage of Christians are not at the forefront and do not have
compelling come‑to‑Jesus stories. Most of us are not so sparkly. We live our
daily lives and, for the most part, people don’t notice. I write this post for
those people – for us. I come to you with very little fanfare, but I’m here to
say, this is normal for a Christian.

We probably
won’t stand out from the crowd. During construction, people just pass by. As
the exterior details emerge, people might take a look and see that things are
coming along, but that acknowledgement will fade. Even when a building is ready
and the ribbon is cut, its still just another building.

Don't be discouraged. Our hum drum existence is beautiful and it is designed by God. It may not always feel like it, but our mediocre presence in this world is valuable to God, and if we stick with it, there will come a time when we look back, fall humbly at God's feet, and thank Him for what He has done in us, through us, and for us. We will see that our unnoticed, daily commitment to following God was and remains to be worth the effort.

For we are co-workers in God’s service;
you are God’s field, God’s building.
By the grace God has given me,
I laid a foundation as a wise builder,
and someone else is building on it.

But each one should build with care.
For no one can lay any foundation other than
the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

If anyone builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
their work will be shown for what it is,
because the Day will bring it to light.
It will be revealed with fire,
and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—
even though only as one escaping through the flames.

1 Corinthians
3:9-15

We work,
not for fanfare, but for invaluable, eternal outcomes that speak to our daily
sacrifice.  We work to honor our Redeemer
and Cornerstone of our faith (1
Peter 2:4-8, Ephesians
2:19‑22). In Christ, we have a firm foundation upon which to build using daily,
intentional, quality steps of honor (Matthew
7:24-27, Luke
6:46-49). No matter how small and overlooked our efforts may be, our
Redeemer uses them.

Everyday
steps; everyday decisions. Daily doing what we know is right. Reading God’s
Word. Praying continuously as the hours pass. Leaning on God to provide and
deliver. Being kind to others. Responding with grace when challenged. Putting
others before us, sometimes doing so when it hurts. Regularly meeting with
Christian brothers and sisters in worship and Bible study. Regularly
ministering with them or on our own. Sharing God’s truth and God’s offer of
salvation as opportunities arise. Being a godly light and example in our
families. So much more. All of these things are part of a normal Christian life
and all of these things are often overlooked by people, but never by God (Psalms
33:18-22, 34:12-15).

As we
continue to sacrifice and make ourselves vulnerable for our Lord (Luke
9:23), remember we do it with His strength. Paul reminds us that “when I am
weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians
12:10).

Here's the steadfast sacrifice of the Apostle Paul:

…I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

As the years
pass, we can look back and be glad at how we’ve built on the Rock, an
unshakable foundation.  But, for now, let’s
keep our heads up, and let’s not loiter in celebration of our redemption and freedom.  Let’s keep our noses to the grind (Galatians
6:9, 2
Thessalonians 3:13) and offer quality sacrifice.  It’s a hard life, but it is rewarding (2
Timothy 3:12, Luke
9:23, James
1:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58), Jesus will always be with us, and God will honor us (John 12:26).

Blessed is the man who
remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test
he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

I close with a song that I enjoyed live in
October and that we sang at church last Sunday – confirmation to me that
I need to publish this post.  I hope you
are encouraged to remain steadfast as you daily take up your cross for the sake
of Christ.

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