Filling the Gap - Bringing Beauty

April 11, 2017

Filling the Gap - Bringing Beauty.

(Do not look at the images until you get to the end)

Matthew 28:19-20 The Message (MSG)

18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

It never fails that God uses my profession or experiences to reveal Himself and His goodness. As I was getting my day going I came upon a message that got me to think about something in my profession....Installing Tile.

I don't normally refer to what I write as rich, but I've got to say that this kind of blew my mind.

Being in the construction field for decades, designing buildings and structures and even doing the physical labor, I have taken it for granted with my knowledge and expertise. Knowing how to build a wall, frame or wire a house, how to protect it from the elements, install flooring and drawing construction documents and understand the codes comes pretty much as second nature. Likewise as we see God move us we see the journey or situations just become second nature.

So as I have been thinking about things, the illustration of installing tile came to mind as today’s illustration about our journey and gives some perspective to life.

When installing tile there are several things you must take into consideration.

- The condition of the surface you are installing the tile to. This includes the material as well as the cleanliness of the surface. If you tile over wood you are more likely to have more movement than you would over concrete which may create for cracks or buckling. As for tile to concrete you will need to use some special things as well as some concrete have chemical agents which can keep tile from sticking.

- Once you have installed the tile it requires for it to be separated by gaps and cure over time. Without the gaps and time you can get buckling with the expansion and contraction of the material it is adhered to due to change of temperature or moisture (humidity). And without the time you can find the tiles move.

- After the tile has been laid and cured it requires something called grout to be installed to fill the gaps. The installation is very messy as it requires for the grout to be tucked and packed into each gap and usually is spread over the surface of the tile requiring cleaning after the grout is set.

Okay, so you may be asking the question of why I am talking about the installation of tile. Here you go!

Our lives and journey are a mosaic. With each passing day God is laying a tile in our lives but there are gaps that we have where we don't think we can get to the next tile He is about to lay. From our very perspective we just see an ocean of tiles without rhyme or reason. We don't understand the condition of the surface each tile is being adhered on, but understand this, God has seen the condition and if He felt that the surface needed a different tile (experience) He would install it accordingly.

So what about those gaps? It is through the journey that things seem difficult and we think we can't get to the next tile, but with each completed and installed tile God has been filling the gaps with His grout of grace. As it goes on it is packed in and is messy with our tears, but also for one specific purpose. As we look back we realize how many tiles have been laid and understand how God's grace has gotten us to the next one and the next one and the next one. As we reflect we see that the tiles that God had already laid is less of a pile and more of a systematic organization of something else, but because of our perspective still have a hard time seeing what He sees and has been imagining. Others can see the mosaic in progress, yet where we are makes it so difficult to see things come together yet when we reflect where God brought us from we realize there is progress.

As we come to the close in our lives God brings us to a level to show His masterpiece. He has filled all of the gaps and has cleaned all of the tile and it is now time for you to be revealed as a legacy for future generations. As we are fully revealed we are put on as a display of the reflection of.........................................................................................

JESUS CHRIST.

                                                                                      (Picture from Peter Palusak)

Never forget that God is laying out the path for you with each tile He lays and is filling the gaps with His grout of grace to "Finish that good work He started in you." Live it to the fullest and be excited about the epic unveiling He is about to do and put on for many generations to come!