3:237 – You Are Not Garbage. You Are A Labor of Love.

#faithbites #faithjourney garbage

Our neighbor’s daughter wanted me to 3D print her a horse. I quickly agreed as I had already made her brother two turtles. I thought how hard could a horse be. Boy, was I wrong. It was very difficult print. By the time I had a good one for her, I had printed 7 horses. I also have her horse #5 because it was pretty good, just had a wonky tail. The rest were garbage, except for horse #6.

Horse #6, the one you see in the picture below, started off ok. But as I removed the supports (these are built during construction to hold up pieces), it began to break. First the tail, then one leg, then another. By the time, it was done, I had a horse with one leg and no tail. I was ready to throw it into the garbage. What use was a broken horse for me? It couldn’t be fixed. I tried to use the nail glue I had and no dice. Frustrated, it almost went into the trash. Then I bought super glue, and with a lot of patience, the horse is in one piece. When you look at it, it looks like a horse. But when you dig deeper, you see a cut in the middle, the glue holding the legs and tail together, and it doesn’t stand without support. But with all my work, it is still a horse.

What does this have to do with faith? We are all made perfect in God’s image. When we are born, sin enters us and we are broken. But no matter what, God doesn’t throw us in the garbage. He, through the forgiveness of Christ, picks up our pieces and puts us back together. To others, we are broken, but with the support of Christ, we can stand up and are flawless.

Scripture

• Psalm 30:2 – O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.
• Jeremiah 17:14 – O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!
• Hebrews 10:17 – Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

Reflection

We are broken creations. Our pieces scattered far and wide. Anyone who saw our sins would want to toss us aside, but not God. He forgives and not the forgiveness of people, which may still hold a grudge but the forgiveness that surpasses all human understanding. God knows there is still work to be done on us and through us. He picks up the pieces, glues them back together, and gives us a mission to serve him. God often works through those that are the most broken.

When people look at you, they see your scars, your pain, and your past wrongdoings. Not God. He sees a creation that is perfect in his image because Christ forgave your sins so completely that he couldn’t find them if he looked for them.

My repaired horse is standing, with support, on my desk. I know his imperfections are there but I also see a horse that I built, repaired, and he can be what he was meant to be, a toy.

Never think you are garbage or bound for the trash heap. No matter how broken or how many pieces you are in, God has the best super glue out there to make you pure and new.

Challenge

Are you feeling like garbage? Seek out the Lord. Ask him to heal you. Seek his counsel for the purpose he has for you. He will put you back together, heal you, and make you whole.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us, scars, cracks, and all. You have told us that you love us and will forgive us no matter what. Glue us back together, remove our scars, and make us whole. You are not done with us by a long shot. Remind us of our worth to you. Help us be whole servants of you from now until the end of the age. In your name, Amen