Wednesday, February 16, 2011

He's Not Finished With Me Yet

Perhaps the most famous Dome in the world is the one that sits atop the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy. Filipo Brunelleschi's double walled, brick Duomo was and is an architectural marvel, many go so far as to call it a miracle of design.

The amazing thing to me, is that when the cathedral that sports the dome was designed and constructed during the Middle Ages, this type of dome had never been built. In fact, the technology required to build such a structure hadn't even been invented yet. When the church was finally completed in 1418, the roof where the dome would eventually be placed was simply left open. Finally, an architectural competition was held to find someone who would be able to design and build a suitable dome. Brunelleschi won and 18 years later, his masterpiece was complete.

Here’s my question…who designs an element for a building that no one knows how to build? And, who follows through with actually constructing that building, just leaving the project unfinished, open to rain, snow and bird droppings until someone comes along who can figure it out? Can you picture the elders of your church approving something like that?
Oh, that you and I would have that kind of faith! Think about all of the things that God may have planned for our lives that are beyond our imagination or ability. What if, instead of deciding that we are limited by what we know is possible, we left our minds and lives open to God’s plans and designs? What if we really did “Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding?”

Let’s remember that we are a work in progress, that we are God’s masterpiece. And, even though it may be painful and uncomfortable at times…let’s always leave places that are open for renovations and additions. Remember these words from Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

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