It never ceases to amaze me at the houses people build in the most insecure settings. Who among us has watched as homes (often large and luxurious), have been swept off their foundations by the power of a hurricane! How many of us have seen houses slipping from the cliffs along the Southern California coastline due to mud slides or during an earthquake! Even in our own inland regions we find sink-holes that consume entire homes in just one afternoon. Do you really want to build a million dollar home on top of a mountain with a skimpy foundation or build a vacation home right at water's edge; of course not, but people do everyday!
God is certainly into Home Improvement, but from a different perspective then most General Contractors or Structural Engineers would consider. Although foundations are critical to support the upper structure, His interests don't stop there; He is also interested in the interior design. The Bible says that "we are God's workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10) and promises that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..." (Philippians 1:6).
In addition to new construction, God specializes in renovation projects (fixer-uppers) of the human heart. So often people think they have to clean up their act before God could ever accept them. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves and accepts you just the way you are; although He doesn't intend to keep you that way. He has a design for your life. All He's waiting for is a "building permit" that will allow Him to be a master builder. If you say "yes" to God, He can commence His home improvement project right away and always bring it in on time.
You were created according to God's design. The Bible says you are fearfully and wonderfully made when He knitted you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). Most of us would have to admit that we've done significant damage to the design of our life over the years. True change is beyond our ability. The Good News is that, in Jesus, God has given us all that is required to complete the job. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus is the foundation on which our life must be built. The Bible also warns against building our lives on unstable ground. Too often we put our hopes in money, power, fame, or earthly desires. If we ignore God's plan, Jesus says that we are like the foolish man who builds his house upon the sand (Matthew 7:24-27).
If you want a sneak preview of how God intends to renovate your life (from the ground up), look at Jesus. He's the model or show home that God wants us to resemble when His redesigning work is complete. In God's blueprint, our new life is to be fashioned after Jesus' character. Like Jesus, we were created to carry out good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Fortunately, we don't have to renovate our life alone. When we permit God to work, His Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in our hearts until the work is completed (1 Corinthians 3:16). Each day the Spirit provides a fresh supply of resources and building materials such as love, joy, peace, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit continually works to restore us.
So the next time you look inside yourself and don't like what you see, remember that God can redesign or renovate any life. Get a life...in Christ! It's one home improvement adventure that will truly change your life from the inside out.
