Symbol: Putting together a large picture
puzzle
Lesson: Becoming a well-balance, knowledgeable
Christian takes time
Illustration: Have you ever tried to put together a large picture puzzle? Some
have a very methodical approach--first they will study the cover; then they may
start sorting the pieces by dominant colors. Let's say that the puzzle has both
a blue sky and a blue Lake. Additionally, it had trees with leaves in autumn
colors along with green and tan-colored grass. You can readily see there may be
problems in accurately sorting.
However as you
continually check the box cover for clues, you slowly start to make progress.
Maybe one blue piece did end up in the wrong blue-colored pile. Maybe it even
seemed to fit when you pieced it into the puzzle. But as time, diligence, and
concentration progressed you discovered & fixed those errors.
The same goes for our
learning to live the way God wants us to. When we first try to figure out the
big picture of what is involved, we think we have clearly in mind how to make
that picture part of our lives. Perhaps first we try to group major facets
(colors) of pure worship--there is morality, doctrine, social requirements and
more.
When we start to
actually examine each piece in the group, we may realize that some things seem
confusing and aren't piecing together quite right. As we make progress, we also
study the box (Christ our exemplar) more closely. The more we correctly piece
the puzzle together in our lives, the clearer the image of truly living a
Christian life becomes. Being imperfect, it is very likely we will make misfits
in that puzzle from time to time. But determination pays off.
As you approach the
finish of the picture (your lifetime of service to God), putting the puzzle
together gets easier and easier. Seeing as none of us are perfect, none will
have that puzzle complete until the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ.
At that time, our life will be a wonderful picture of a godly person.
Notes: Some may claim that "just believing" in God is sufficient. However, the writer James pointedly shows the error of that conclusion.
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