Several years back, I participated in a campus beautification project. A group of about twenty young ladies and I were given the task of cleaning out old flowers from a large flower bed and planting in new flowers in their place. We had that flower bed cleaned out in about forty minutes flat. But it took an hour and a half to plant the new flowers in their place. Literally twice as long to plant new life as it took to tear it out:
In John 10:10 Jesus says "the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Killing, stealing, and destroying are quick work. Yes, it might be dragged out over a long time. But it can also happen quickly. In the life of Job, he lived years in favor before destruction and suffering poured down on him swiftly. And yet, there was restoration. God brought back all that had been taken from him.
And that is the difference-- not merely a fast refund. No, the "more abundantly" takes time. It's a LONG TERM commitment. Recently we submitted our taxes (or hopefully you at least filed for an extension). For those fortunately ones who are due a refund, it arrives as either a direct deposit or as a refund check. Quicky deposited.
But God is about more than reimbursement. This is an extended thing, a lifetime thing. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He has prepared in advance." A workmanship is a masterpiece. Finely crafted. A time investment. And "created" is not just a past verb. No, this verb is actually a present progressive tense verb, which is grammar-speak for continually happening. A more accurate translation: we are created and continuing to be created. A work in progress. Forever in motion. We are His long-term investment with compounded interest. And that is why new life takes work-- time to clear out what isn't healthy, to dig space for new roots, to enrich, to water and give light and a breath of fresh air.
