A Box of Screws

I don’t recall being in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day or having a vision that would cause a person to write an inspirational novel and get them selves booked on a traveling ministry circuit or ending up as a guest on Oprah, but I do wonder if I was merely in the pretrial deposition phase of a possible imagined conviction. A criminal might get anxious if he was to get himself busted and be sent to prison in a similar scenario and over such a minor technicality as I present here.

As I was doing an inventory of the evidence that was being compiled pertaining to the impending case against me, someone came across a box that was to be presented at my trial. The box in question was filled with small metal screws, nails and washers. As I looked at what appeared to be peoples exhibit A, the District Attorney, a flashy devil in a three piece suit, began to unravel the contents of my life. He asked me why I had used so little of the items in the box but yet was so overly liberal with gossip and innuendo which I noticed was labeled peoples exhibit B. He must have thought that my response would be the coup de grace in the case as I hesitated to present a plea. It was then that I realized that I wasn’t given a large task in my former life. I wasn’t put in charge of the electrical grid or the drywall, the roofing or any heavy lifting for that matter. I was not required to mow the lawn, pour any cement or pave the Lord’s driveway. I was given minor duties that had I kept busy would have used up much more of the hardware in question. Each of the small items were the God bless you’s, kind gestures and simple courtesies. A short prayer on behalf of a stranger or asking to do some small chore could have changed the moment for someone. I must have thought so little at the time about those seemingly insignificant phrases that could have helped to make someone’s day. A kind hello or a random act of kindness was often neglected. How many people did I meet in everyday life that I had so little concern for? I would often think that yes, Jesus may love you but I think you’re a certified jerk. I’m sure I’m the only one who has ever experienced that. Just a little screw or a thumb tack would have helped someone keep it together for another day. A nail could have fixed a picture to the wall or provided a place to hang a hat. The possibilities were endless and I realized that as I approached the bench. I’m sobered in this moment of thought as I come to understand that this box of unused fasteners may just be my eternal reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I may be reminded all through eternity that I missed so many precious opportunities to build someone up or to help in a small way to establish someone’s faith. Although I hope not to over simplify this, these small opportunities are only a byproduct of our walk with the Lord in this lifetime and these works of faith do not save us from God’s major penalties. Only the atoning blood of Jesus can do that but we do these generous acts of faith as a token of our love for Him. To brighten someone’s day or to bring joy to a sorrowful soul is just a small cog in the big wheels of this awesome living mechanism called the New Jerusalem. Some of us will do great things but most of us will not get any credit for any great achievement here on this planet in our lifetime. We’ll have to wait for our reward in His everlasting kingdom but until then I pray you can empty your box of hardware in a blessed and prayerful fashion. As for me, it may have been a dream but I’m awake now.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col 3:16-17

T. LaVigne