Many Hands Make Light Work

I have been absolutely fascinated watching the builders across the road from me today. 

I have quite literally stopped what I've been doing for 20 minutes at a time to observe their progress.  The flats have shot up - even since yesterday - and I am amazed at the pace of their work.

I noticed today how all of them have their own, individual jobs to complete which fit into the bigger, overarching job.  Some of them were moving bricks with machines.  Some were carefully spreading cement and laying bricks and checking they were level.  Some were filling in the gaps between the outer and inner walls with insulation.  Some were moving and rebuilding the scaffolding surrounding the site.

All of them had their own job to do and all of them were working diligently.

Many hands make light work.

I think it is probably no coincidence that I was listening to 'Build Your Kingdom Here' by Rend Collective when I first paused to watch the builders earlier (listen to it here -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcSWpVKKMcs).

The words of the chorus are -  
 

"Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray."
 

As I watched the builders today and listened to this song, I was struck by how it offered a beautiful picture of the church: everyone working together on different jobs, to build God's Kingdom on earth. 

We often pray the words of the Lord's Prayer - "Your Kingdom come", but we don't often acknowledge our role in bringing - or building - this Kingdom.

God has a part and a purpose for each of us.  No matter who we are, or how we got here, we all have a role to play in the building of His Kingdom.

"God is building a home.  He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.  He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.  We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home."

[Ephesians 2:20-22 MSG]
 

Many hands make light work.

Vantage Point

From my first-floor flat, I have a brilliant view into the construction site just across the road from me.

 

I noticed earlier that, because of all of the boards surrounding the site, it is virtually impossible to see anything from ground level.  So, whilst someone walking or driving past would only be able to see the very tops of the scaffolding poles, I have a perfect view of everything that is going on.

 

I have watched the ground being dug up.  I have watched the foundations being established.  I have seen the huge breeze blocks being laid and built up.  I have watched the piping going in.  I have watched the insulation being added, before the outer bricks were layered up.

 

I have watched it all.

 

In the same way, I think that when God is working in our hearts, He has this same vantage point: He can see over the 'walls' and watches every little change and development that is going.

 

But sometimes we - and others - can't see past the walls.  We don't have the bird's eye view that God does.

 

So we have to trust that He is doing what He says He will do.

 

We have to trust Paul's words to the church in Thessalonica:

"The One who called you is completely dependable.  If he said it, he’ll do it!"

 

[1 Thessalonians 5:24 MSG]

 

We might not always be able to see what is going on, in the restoration work of our hearts, but we can always trust the One who is overseeing that work.

 

 

 

 

Considerate Construction

I noticed this morning that there is a new sign on the building site opposite my flat: "Considerate Constructors".

 

According to the poster, their aim is to 'Improve the image of construction.'

 

I'm not quite sure what that will look like in practice [perhaps  fewer builder's bums around?]

 

However, the phrase 'Considerate Constructor' reminded me of this passage in Isaiah:

 

       "As a young man marries a young woman,
       so will your Builder marry you;

       as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
       so will your God rejoice over you."

 

       [Isaiah 62:5 NIV]

 

Isaiah compares God to a builder, to a constructor.  He describes how God's relationship with His people - with Israel - is not just of a husband and a wife, but of a builder who is lovingly restoring His people.

 

God is in the business of construction.  Construction and reconstruction.

 

However, whilst He is in the construction business, God is a considerate and compassionate and courteous builder.  He doesn't knock things down or bulldoze them or raze them to the ground and leave them.

 

He gently and patiently and lovingly restores us.

 

He is our Considerate Constructor.

 

 

 

Under Construction

The car park opposite my flat is being turned into a block of flats. 

 

It has been boarded up for months, but with my first-floor view, I could see what was going on: nothing much.  It is only in the last month that the boards have come down and work has begun.

 

The ground has been dug up over the past few days and just today, I have noticed that the first foundations have been laid.

 

I am amazed by how quickly the work is being done, now that they have started.

 

It reminded me of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, as retold in the book of Nehemiah:

"Then I gave them my report: 'Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up.  Come—let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.' [...]  They said, 'We’re with you.  Let’s get started.'  They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work."

 

[Nehemiah 2:17-18 MSG]

 

As we read the story of Nehemiah, we see that the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was a collaborative endeavour.  Each section was rebuilt by a different person - all of whom are named in the book - each one adding something to the wall.

 

I imagine that the walls of Jerusalem could have been rebuilt by just one person, but the work would have taken forever.  It would have been easy to become discouraged and fed up and to feel that there was no point in continuing.  But with a group of people each working on different areas, the work was completed much faster. 

 

What's more, the workers could encourage and support each other:

"We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work."

 

[Nehemiah 4:6 MSG]

 

In the same way, we need others around us to help with our 'reconstruction' work: we can try it on our own, but we will soon become discouraged and frustrated and disillusioned.  With other people around us, supporting and encouraging us, we will find that we can get the work done much faster and much more effectively.

 

We are all 'under construction' and we all need people around us who will encourage us when we feel like giving up, who will build when we are tired and who will remind us of the goal - the finished building - when all we can see is rubble.