DESPITE APPEARANCES--GOD IS AT WORK

Our church building is not much to look at. There is no siding on the front or back of the church. The roof is covered with tarps. The church steeple has been decapitated to its roots. A passer by might wonder about its condition. Has God abandoned Lewis & Clark Bible Church? Don't the people care?

If someone would have told me last year that we were to completely remodel our sanctuary in 2008, I would have thought him to be crazy. Under what scenario would our small congregation come up with such funds! And yet here we are--a building permit in hand, a contractor on the job, and the approval of the insurance company to do the repairs.

In many respects we can all relate to the present condition of our building--in our present state there are still many flaws. Though forgiven, sin is still apparent. We are not yet conformed to the image of Christ, but the work has begun, and all the provisions have been made for its completion. "He who began a good work in (us) will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).

It is to this reality that Paul praised God. God intends to fill every believer up "to all the fulness of God" (Eph. 19). And we can be confident that He will because, "He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20). Our building might not be much to look at now, but God is at work to change that. As believers there is still much work to be done in us, but God has a plan: one day "He will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the gody of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Phil. 3:21). Praise God for His ability to save to the uttermost those who place their faith and trust in Him!

Pastor Jerry