Looking inquisitively at the solid block of marble he picked
up his hammer. Placing the chisel to the rock he struck with a gentle force. A
small chip of marble arced through the air. Another whack, another chip off the
block. One small chip at a time. After more than two years of chipping Michelangelo
put down his hammer and chisel, took a step back, and gazed upon his
masterpiece, a fourteen foot statue of David made from solid marble.
We all are created in the image and likeness of God. God is
the sculptor and each of us is formed by his own hand. Each and every one of us
is a masterpiece created by the Father. Each and every one of us is priceless
in his sight. Because we are each hand made there isn’t a single one of us the
same.
God forms each of us with his own hand. Some of us are like malleable
clay easily molded with a gentle touch. Others are like marble requiring
repeated whacks with a large hammer. It took Michelangelo two years of strenuous
labor through every type of weather to free David from the marble. God works on
us continuously through our entire lifetime. We are a masterpiece constantly
being changed and improved, much like the Illinois highway system.
God’s work in my life is constantly on-going right up until
the point my body breathes its last. Then it returns to the dust from whence it
came. The work on my soul continues until that is also made perfect. Again, for
some of us our souls are like clay easy to form. Others require a long period
of timelessness to perfect.
When our souls have been perfected God gathers the dust of
our bodies and breathes new life into it. He then reunites our perfected souls
with our newly formed perfected bodies. With all that is not perfect removed we
now can dwell with God for eternity in heaven.
I am always amazed at God’s hand in my life. I lived in the
shadows just shy of the darkness. God brought me forth from the shadows to the
person I am today. This is not something I was capable of myself. People live
in darkness because it is easy and it is fulfilling to our animalistic desires.
To live in the light takes constant work. It takes discipline. It takes denial
to things that seem to feel right. Addiction to darkness is the strongest
addiction there is and all other addictions flow from it.
God has given me a vision of the person he wants me to
become. That is the most frightening thing in my life, to see where I was and
compare it to where I am supposed to go. There is no way I can ever accomplish
that on my own. But the Lord knows this and he guides me through every step
along the way. He is calling you to a new life as well and stands ready to take
you by the hand and walk with you along the way. Will you allow him to guide
you?
Whack me again with that hammer, Lord. I am your David
waiting to be freed from this marble prison.
