Carpenter’s Corner: Building character

Jacob stared in disbelief at the faucet in the restaurant’s rest­room wondering if and when it was going to turn on. He fran­tically waved his hands under, around, over and then back un­der trying to get the motion de­tector to supply water in which to wash his hands. “Old batter­ies, that’s it” he said out loud then went another round trying to persuade the contraption to operate.

He discovered the faucet’s handle about the same time he noticed his suit was soaking up water from the counter’s sur­face and now there was a dark wet spot around the front of his trousers. He reached for the soap dispenser which was stuck in a closed position refusing to dispense any soap. As he contin­ued to energetically push on the top, it snapped off altogether tumbling onto the floor.

It was at that very moment that the device, under pressure mind you, decided to supply ev­ery last drop of its pink solution in a mighty torrent directed at Jacob’s shirt and tie. Rush­ing over to the paper towel dis­penser, Jacob searched for the handle that would dispense some needed relief in the form of something to clean up with.

However, there wasn’t even a lever, push handle, side sprock­et or any other visible means to reach the new roll of paper towels that could be clearly seen through the fixture’s Plexiglas front cover. Even the simple lock at the top wouldn’t succumb to be picked. Calmly Jacob surveyed his situation as the answer just appeared out of the ether. “Maybe its battery operated?”

After waving his hands sev­eral more times underneath, above, and to both sides a red light came on as a short 6 inch section of paper towel joyfully appeared. Feeling proud of his accomplishments Jacob ripped it off and frantically waved for another. For a moment, Jacob just started at the red light which seemed to be glaring back at him. He had to wait sev­eral minutes before the machine dispatched another 6 inch sec­tion of paper towel. This process continued for the next few min­utes.

It is getting harder to discern whether the fixtures we inter­act with are equipped with voice recognition, motion detection or are just old fashioned analog. It is only a matter of time be­fore we will not be using paper currency to purchase our food, clothing or other necessities. We will simply wave our hands over a scanner at checkout and the computer chip embedded under our skin will charge our bank account.

This world system is passing away. The mark of the beast, whatever that may be, will one day fade into oblivion as Jesus returns to the earth to take the throne of his long awaited king­dom. God is purifying us, test­ing and teaching us to prepare us for his coming kingdom. Let us not conform to this world but be transformed.

Perhaps, God is teaching us patience to develop His grace in us? There are some of God’s graces which would never be discovered if it were not for tri­als. Have you ever noticed that our faith never looks as great in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a fire fly, showing but little light except it be in the midst of sur­rounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the warm sunshine of prosper­ity but only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflic­tions are often the black back­ground in which God places the gems of his children’s graces, to make them shine the better.

Have you ever asked God for more faith or patients? “Lord, we need more faith: let us know that we have faith.” God an­swers these requests by putting us into situations where we can practice thus developing the virtue we request. Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be confident of their existence.

Besides, it is not merely dis­covery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified tri­als. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Chris­tians. He trains his soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes us cross through fast moving streams, swim through rivers, climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy backpacks filled with sorrow on our backs.

Well, maybe this will account for the troubles through which we are passing? Is not the Lord bringing out our graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why he is contending with us? “I will say to God, Do not condemn me; Show me why you contend with me.” Job 10:2