One of the houses on our block decided to do a “remodel.” I was surprised when I watched them tear down everything but one inside wall of the garage. That’s a re-model???
That’s what they call it in California. As long as one thing stands from the old house, there are great tax and construction benefits to avoiding “new construction.” Evidently, changing everything but one little wall of a garage does not equal new house . . . but merely a remodeled house. Day by day (and construction racket by construction racket) I watch the progress on that neighbor’s lot. What is being created out of the rubble of the old is something quite new and unique.
Of course, making old things into new things isn’t really an unusual thing, is it. People with vision have upgraded eyesores into parks . . . junk into antique treasures . . . rags into linen paper . . . saints out of sinners.
Change is sometimes a difficult thing for us . . . especially when it feels like everything but the “inside garage wall” is being taken away from us. But that’s the main work of our Lord when He takes our “old” and makes it “new.” He doesn’t like waste . . . especially wasted lives and souls. So there’s some recycling and remodeling going on all the time by our Creator after we invite Him on “our property.”
But new creation is not only the job of God alone. Sometimes we are used by God to start the process in another by recommending the One who began the remodel in us. Jesus taught us that this was one of our chief jobs as Disciples of Christ. Jesus repeatedly reclaimed wasted lives: an adulterous woman, Legion, Zaccheus, Paul . . . the list goes on and on and includes each of our names as well, for we were called from an old life to a new one when we accepted Christ into our hearts.
Are we being the Christians we should be? Does our life manifest a “newness” in our attitudes? Are we faithful enough as redeemed people to reach out to others who need a little redeeming themselves? all, as remodeled people . . . recycled and reclaimed by a loving Creator through His blessed Son . . . we are the best ones to recommend the good work of the Master Builder!
As we prepare to see the signs of God in our world this Advent, let’s observe His continuing work all around us. Perhaps the greatest sign of the power of the incarnation is the great new construction we see in relationships, attitudes, and hope in our own lives.