“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near”  James 5:8

When my wife and I moved to El Centro several months ago, the conference moving company did a great job: wrapping up our furniture, loading and unloading the truck, and maneuvering big appliances. We were thankful to them for their work.

One of the things that they did (and forgot to un-do) was to loosen the handlebars of our bicycles for transport. They turned the handlebars sideways, to be parallel to the frame, so that the bikes could line-up easily and be tied-down for storage.

When I discovered the issue a few days after arriving, I thought it would be no big deal: I simply needed an Allen Wrench (an L-shaped, six-sided metal tool) to tighten the handlebars back into their correct position.

So I rummaged through my box of random tools, found some Allen wrenches of different sizes, and tried to fit them to what I needed on the bike. But none of my wrenches fit! The size needed was bigger than my small wrenches, and a tad smaller than my biggest one.

So I had to go to a hardware store and buy an allen wrench of the correct size. Once I did, I was able to twist that wrench in that socket, tighten up those handlebars, and ride to my heart’s content.

The Bible tells us that we are God’s handiwork, and that He wants to use us to fulfill his purposes here on earth. Another cannot necessarily do the job that we are called to do, just as the other Allen wrenches in my box couldn’t tighten the bike handlebars. We are tools in God’s toolbox, and he has each one of us in there for a special purpose.

Furthermore, consider for a moment: what is the work of a basic tool? Does a hammer put a nail in the wall, or a screwdriver fix the vacuum cleaner? No, we do. But we need that tool to be reliable when the time comes to use it.

What if my Allen wrench had flopped limp like a string of spaghetti? Would I have been able to tighten my bicycle? No way! Though it’s me that puts the effort into twisting the wrench, the wrench needs to stand firm in order for it’s purpose to be accomplished.

Friends, it is the same with us and God: He has us in his tool-chest because he knows us to be reliable. When he decides to metaphorically “pull-out” one of us and twist, pound, scrape, or wedge, all we need to do is stand firm and let His action have its intended effect. The wrench receives power from my hand, and applies it to the bicycle, and it does it by simply obeying it’s purpose: to stay firm.

This isn’t an illustration we find directly in scripture, but I’m convinced that if Jesus and the apostles had lived in our modern-times, someone would’ve used it at sometime. “Standing firm” is a concept utilized dozens of times in the Bible, and God’s accomplishing his purpose through us can be evidenced again and again.

I, frankly, like the idea that I am a tool in God’s toolchest. I like the idea that he’ll pull me out when he has a nail to pound, or a screw to insert. My fellow tools have different shapes (abilities) and purposes than I do, and I shouldn’t question my worth compared to theirs.

One thing is sure, brothers and sisters, God is building up His kingdom, and he has decided to use us in a crucial role in it. Will you be a spaghetti strand, or a firm piece of metal, so that when the Lord twists, things get accomplished? I pray you’ll resolve to stand firm in Him, and see what kinds of things God is planning to do through you.

God bless you all.

In Him,

    Pastor Mark