Proverbs 4:18
the path of the just is as the morning light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
God, in His infinite power and wisdom, is not yet finished with us. Haven't we all felt, at times, that we have reached the end of our path? The truth, however, is far from this. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old you is past, and you are being transformed into the image of Christ, day by day.
In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul brings forth this comforting truth. He says in Philippians 1:6, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This verse, beloved, is a promise that echoes the voice of a loving and caring God who is intimately involved in our lives. He is the Potter, and we are the clay, constantly being moulded into the very image of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
The story of Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, demonstrates this beautifully. Peter, who was once a simple fisherman, became a vital figure in the early church. Despite his initial failures, his denial of knowing Jesus and his moments of doubt, God was not done with him. In John 21:15-17, Jesus reinstates Peter, showing us that our past does not define our future in Christ. Herein lies a powerful lesson: God is not finished with us in our failures, but He uses them to build and refine us.
Let us reflect on our personal journeys. Haven't there been times we faltered, when we doubted, when we felt we were not good enough? But each time, didn't God pick us up, dust us off and set us back on track? And isn't it true that every such instance only made us stronger in faith? Indeed, He is a good God who carefully chips away our rough edges and smoothens our coarse surfaces.
What a blessed assurance it is to know that God is still working on us! Even when we feel lost in the process, when we cannot see the direction, or when we fail to comprehend the changes, let us take comfort in knowing that our good God is in control.
Beloved, I would like you to leave here today with this truth etched upon your hearts: God is not finished with you. You are a work-in-progress, a beautiful masterpiece being painted by the divine Artist. Even when the process is painful or slow, trust Him.
Remember, the same God who turned a shepherd boy into a king, a barren woman into a joyful mother, and a persecutor of Christians into one of the greatest apostles, is working on you! He has not left you unfinished. Stay strong, remain in hope, and keep your faith alive, for the day will come when you, too, will echo the words of the Apostle Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
And so, it is with heart aflame with love and optimism that I leave you today with these words of comfort and hope. Remember, dear brethren, that in Christ, the old has passed away, and behold, all things are new! God is not yet finished with us. God bless you all, and keep you in His loving care.