Quiet Moments With God--Brand New

This July the high school that sits in the midst of our small community burned. The newspaper headline read, “A Complete Loss.”

The school has been the center of activities in our little town for five decades. It feels as if we’ve lost an old friend. Not only did wood and mortar burn, but the hallways and classrooms filled with memories were destroyed as well.

All three of my children spent some or all of their high school years there. As a family we attended concerts, plays, and cheered at volleyball and basketball games. I even had to make a couple of trips to the principal’s office because of a child’s offense.

Some of the school still stands, but a great deal of it is gone. The morning after the fire, my husband and I drove by. At first glance we couldn’t see the damage. Some of the exterior brick walls looked untouched. However, just beyond was devastation—black and broken windows and burned out classrooms. One building was completely destroyed. We could see ashes and blackened remains, standing like charred skeletons.

As I stared at the devastated structure an ache rose up inside of me. I saw more than a building. I saw people. Many of us are like that burned out school. At first glance we look “just fine” but if someone were to gaze beyond the exterior they’d see burned out and devastated lives.

Crews have been hired to rebuild the school, and before the year is out we will have a brand new building. It will smell of fresh paint and have new floors that glisten, as well as spanking new desks and lockers.

When it is our lives that are devastated, Christ is our work crew. He comes in and makes us brand new.

If you don’t know Christ He’s waiting to introduce Himself to you. He gave His life so we can live. His death opened the doors of heaven to any and all who believe in Him. His love has the power to transform us into His likeness.

We are free to be exactly who He created us to be. We can let light in so our lives shine for all to see. Even though imperfect, when we are the Lord’s we don’t have to hide who we are. We can let the world see the real us and be a living example of what it looks like to be made new in Christ.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie