A Work in Progress

I find it amusing and sometimes even sad at some of the bumper stickers I see that have spiritual sayings on them. Some are true if not confusing to non-believers (In case of the Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned). Some reflect a distorted view of our Lord (God is my co-pilot--really, how arrogant is it to think that God needs our help to manage His world or that we're guiding the ship?). Some are just flat out wrong (God helps those who help themselves---there's that works-based, I must earn my salvation mentality again).

Probably the most accurate bumper sticker I've ever seen regarding our spiritual walk says "Be patient. God isn't finished with me yet". People may or may not be patient with you, but as a believer in the person of Jesus Christ, you can rest assured our Heavenly Father is working in your life and he isn't finished with you yet. 1 Corinthians 4:17 says: For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. God is not some distant deity; removed and detached from the prize of His creation. He is actively working in the events and circumstances in our lives, both the joyful and the painful, to prepare us for a life so great that we can't even begin to understand it.

So why is God handling each of us as a work in progress? Because his desire is for each and every one of us to grow and become more like Jesus. He created us in his image (Genesis 1:27). Because of our sinful human nature, we need to be a work in progress. We need to continually renew our minds so that we will not conform to the world but be transformed into Christ-likeness (Romans 12:1-2).

Being a work in progress may seem like a scary proposition until you cling to the truth that God works all things for good for those he has called (Romans 8:28). Have confidence that his work in us is intended to make us mature, complete and lacking nothing (James 1:4).