A FINISHED PROJECT

Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished.”

I was reading recently about the construction of the Panama Canal. History enthusiasts probably know that the Panama Canal was officially opened in October 1913. Then in January 1914 the first ship, a French crane boat, completed passage through the canal. What some may not know is that the first notion of such a canal came 400 years earlier in 1514. The Spanish, the Scottish, and the French all conjured up ideas of such a canal until finally the United States played the greatest role in its completion.

This project did not run smoothly. Official construction of the existing canal began in 1882. Granted, they did not possess the same technological advances that we have today, but nevertheless, its construction took 32 years and encompassed the terms of eight U.S. Presidents. Poor living and working conditions, disease, and awful behavior from the workers contributed to the many delays in the project. Still, when the United States took controlling interest in the project in 1904, they were determined to complete the canal. Today, the canal plays a vital role in commercial interests worldwide as a vital link to world shipping.

In our lives, God is working to build greatness. Often times, it seems like a circuitous process. Our choices, attitudes, and responses to life’s reality can sometimes delay the process. Have you ever wondered, “When am I going to see the culmination of God’s purpose for me?” You see, God began a work in you and me the day we accepted Christ into our hearts. By our own choosing, though, the development of our spiritual man is not an overnight process. There are “things” that need to be addressed, some things that need to be refined, and some things that need to be removed.

I fully believe that God’s patience deals with many of those obstacles one at a time, so not to hurt us. This is where our cooperation is required. The choice is ours. Do we want the complete work of God to impact our life? Do we really desire His perfect will in our daily walk? If we do, then we will allow Him to shape us, to guide us, and even to bring course correction in us. It may, from time to time, lead us somewhere that we never thought we would go and, maybe, never wanted to be. God is infinitely wise. He knows the best blueprint for the completed work. It won’t happen instantaneously. It’s a means to an end.

Rest assured, though, that God will continue working and continue cultivating our heart. He has a completed work planned for you and me. The work will change our lives. It will change the lives of others. It will last eternally.

Theodore Roosevelt, the American president most passionate about the canal, once said, “It is true of the Nation as well as the individual, that the greatest doer must also be the great dreamer.” The dreams in our hearts today are placed there by the creator. They are the impetus behind us becoming the person that God designed us to be. No matter how the construction of your life appears to be going, take heart. Keep dreaming. God began the work and He alone will finish it.