Allen Tate
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
The story is told of a traveler in medieval times who came across a building site where three masons were working. He asked the first mason, “What are you doing?” The mason replied, “I’m laying bricks.” The traveler then went over to the second mason and asked, “What are you doing?” The mason replied, “I’m building a wall.” The traveler continued to the third mason and asked, “What are you doing?” The third mason said, “I’m raising up a beautiful cathedral for the glory of God!”
All three masons were doing the same thing physically. The difference was in their perspective of their purpose. The first mason was focused on the immediate, laying bricks. Each brick was necessary, but to him it was an end unto itself. The second man understood his task in a larger context, but his vision focused on the near-term. The third man had the “big picture” view. He could see what he was doing as part of a grand and glorious service to the Lord. Indeed, in those days it could take generations to build a cathedral. Thus, he might have known he would never see its completion, but he gloried in the undertaking.
So it is with the Christian life. My wife Nancy often points out that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. We are building God’s kingdom brick by brick. We may not see His coming during our lifetime, but we work with that glorious vision of His kingdom established on the earth.
How does this relate to the new year? Some years we may complete a wall, a worthwhile achievement that we take pleasure in. We look back and say, “That was a good year”. Or, we may feel we’ve just been trudging on, laying bricks, barely making it through, overcoming problem after problem. We may say, “Nothing good happened this year,” or “same old same old.”
But remember, when we are working in God’s will, we are building that glorious kingdom on earth. We may be in the middle of the wall, but each brick laid brings the kingdom closer.
This year, and every year, may we be encouraged to press on, “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:15).
I’d like to sing a blessing over you, taken from Numbers 6:24–26. CLICK HERE to hear the words. May this blessing be over you, your household, your work, and all that pertains to your life, this year, and all the years to come.
New Year’s blessings to you from Parousia Ministries!