God Is In the Remodel!

For some of you I know the word remodel or makeover conjures images of a dream come true. You probably have thought long and hard about the colors you would choose and how perfect things will look. You may even look at magazines or spend hours online looking for the perfect color scheme and fabric. I hate to disappoint those who have the passion for remodeling. You will not induct me as remodel president. You see I love the finished product, where the final snapshot is revealed. However it is the process that takes place before the finishing touch that gives me both a literally and figuratively headache.  I appreciate those who paint and work hard to display beauty.  We are in the middle of a living room and dining room remodel.  My grandmother, has the joy of finally remolding a bit.  I’m so thrilled for us and especially for her, however, in my brain the word remodel means getting rid of stuff.  It means disruption and distraction.  It means sorting through items and throwing away.  It means rearranging objects that seem okay to me right where these are.  The irony is that I know everything will look beautiful when it is complete.  The new paint already makes everything look brighter and like another place entirely. 

I often have the same response in relation to spiritual remolding…  I wonder if most of us have a similar response.  We love the result of God sanctifying us, and becoming Christlike. I don’t believe most of us want God to clean out our messiness, and refine us.  It is painful and inconvenient and it leaves us exposed.    In the end and even in the between, I envision that our Savior is likely saying see my child, all of this remolding and pruning is for a divine purpose, I’m conforming you into the image of Christ.  You only see glimpses of beauty now, but on that final day you will see the completion of my flawless work in whole.  Our dining and living room remodel will be worthwhile and beautiful upon completion. Now we see only small glimpses of the final reveal. This is true for those who walk with God. We cannot see the all revealing beautiful work of Christ just yet.  We are offered beautiful in our lives but sometimes we can be so busy being distracted by the mess in front of us,  we miss the amazing progress occurring.  God is teaching me I can trust Him to refine me. In a spiritual sense to perform a renovation on my mind and soul.   Remodeling takes time. Our spiritual transformation will take longer, and the results at times are far less noticeable. Isn’t great to know that our Heavenly does not leave His work within us incomplete?  By faith in his promise, we can know God is able and willing to display His glory as He confines and refines us!   

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.” Isa. 64:8

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29

My friends on a fun note I have to know are you a remodel junkie?