Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Back before Google flexed it’s muscles and we still learned from books, I found myself at a magazine rack trying to figure out how to build a roof. I had a problem to solve and I couldn’t turn to the degree in my pocket or the experience I had gained from my first post-grad job to figure it out.
It took seven years for me to finally figure out, that putting on a suit and tie every morning, just wasn’t my thing. I gave it a good run straight out of school but I craved for more in my life. I thought that building things with my hands would be a much better fit, so I took off my wingtips, pulled on my work boots and headed to Atlanta to find something to build. I think I’m at my best with a hammer in my hand, and the wind in my face… Jeans and a t-shirt seem to fit me just right.
As I drove past a new subdivision, I spotted out of the corner of my eye, a house under construction with a partially framed roof and nobody on site. I turned into the neighborhood, tracked down the boss and asked if he needed a hand.
Gods favor was with me that day…the boss answered back,“Yes I do, it’s been 2 weeks and my framers nowhere in sight. I paid him up front and he’s taken the money and run. Can you finish this house and do it cheap? I have nobody in line and don’t even know where to look. Are you the answer to my problem….Can you frame a roof?”
I puffed up my chest and answered back, “Yes sir-re Bob” (his name was actually Ron) but you get my drift.“I’m the man for the job. I’ll work it alone so the price will be right.” Then he looked at me like I was nuts, and said, “You’re going to build a roof without a crew, your going to do it yourself?” I responded, “It won’t take me long, just give me the plans and I’ll finish it up.” That was the day I became a framer, the type of carpentry I like best.
I had the look of a carpenter; I had my hammer, level and saw and wore a tool bag slung on my waist. And I was built to work hard; I had developed the stamina of a sled dog, and was as strong as an ox from training in the gym most of my life. But for all my physical attributes, I was still lacking a carpenters most important tool—Knowledge and experience was yet to fill my bag.
I had built roofs on boat houses, dog houses and tree houses, but not a roof on a 4000 square foot home. It was a sprawling ranch plan on a basement with a roof that laid out like five roofs merged into one; hips, valley, multiple ridges, crickets, saddles and even two chimney stacks. If that wasn’t enough to boggle a neophytes mind, the house had a huge bowed out bayed room that twisted my brain. No matter which way I looked I couldn’t figure out how the soffits around the bay would line proper with the others on the house. I tried to convince myself that it couldn’t be done, then I saw a house with a similar bay down the street, and realized why I chose football instead of debate.
I needed a plan, so I headed to Home Depot…a carpenters cathedral to pray. Back in that day, Home Depot had a large rack with books and magazines near the front door. I think I thumbed through every book on the stand. I read for hours on what Bob Villa and his cronies had to say about building roofs, but by the end of the day I was no better off than when I walked in the store. It was time for a beer, my go to performance enhancer back in the day.
Three enhancers later, I came up with a plan; I’ll build a little scale model, like the ones I saw architectural students, back at UF, carry to class. I grabbed a couple of Nike sneaker boxes, some scissors and tape, and built a cardboard house, just like the one on the plans.
I built the tiny scaled walls first, with the back wall bumped out in a bay. And then placed the cardboard roof on top, cut up with all of its valleys and ridges, and instantly I knew—I had found the way.
The exterior walls adjacent to the bayed room needed pony-walls on top, then the 9 pitch roof would tie all the soffits together and I could call it a day. Five days later I was done with the house, and the roof was complete. Our problems were solved—On to the next!
The solution to Rons problem was as simple as one man with no crew. At the end of the day it wasn’t my Home Depot library card or an old shoe box that got the job done. The job got done because I told Ron I was the solution, and I was going to honor my word.
I had no fear that I couldn’t do the job…given a set of plans I knew I could figure it out. Thing is, at the time, I didn’t really know how to do it, I just knew I could figure it out. Fear profits you none, and once you understand this truth God becomes the only crew you’ll ever need—He will never let you down. On the other hand, when your up on a roof, I think even God would say, “An extra guy or two couldn’t hurt.”
I never saw Ron again, but I will alway cherish those days spent out in the sun, on top of that house, learning my trade. Ron had given me an opportunity that helped solve his problem and along the way it helped me understand life.
Our God is so awesome and so full of mercy and grace. He sent His Son to solve our problems—to save us from ourselves.
Jesus amazes me with His ability to stay focused on God’s work at hand. He wasn’t about to let something, whether big or little get in His way. When things got tough Jesus never despaired, He just kept working the plan. Quitting is never an option for those who know they’re the solution—for those without fear. To have no fear in this world is to have faith in God’s plan.
John’s locked away in a pit, awaiting the sword that will soon take his head. Lazarus wrapped up in a tomb assumed to be dead. The devil leads Judas astray, as the crew partakes in one final meal. It seemed that every single day a new distraction came Jesus’ way. And after nearly three years of telling people the truth, Jesus found that seldom did the plan they wanted to follow look anything like the one He and God had designed.
Distractions and fear can shut down the best, but Jesus never gave in to either of these. When one speaks the truth, and the world picks up stones to throw at your head, you would think that fear would set in, but for Jesus it never did. Nothing distracted His focus. He was the man for God’s plan. And in the end He didn’t need to defend Himself to the kings or the people of this world. No, He quietly put His head down, followed the plan, got to work and climbed up on the cross.
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
A problem or a solution, what do you see? You see what you focus on—you see what you see. Set your eyes squarely on your faith in Jesus Christ and let that focus guide your way. You can become the solution to the worlds lost vision—If you let hope and faith lead the way.
Jesus never stopped for a second to solve his own problems, He didn’t worry about the day, the sword at John’s neck or Lazarus wrapped in a tomb. Compassion and remorse, of course, He is the God of love. But He didn’t dwell on His emotions, or the circumstances of those events. He had come to solve the world’s problems; His focus was on others and the solution—Gods plan, was to important to neglect.
I love to think about Jesus the carpenter, I bet He built some great stuff. Some days that I work, I image Jesus at the saw. His image keeps me grounded as it reminds me that I’m not working for myself. I imagine Him building the timbers that He would carry; this always reminds me that His focus was never on Himself. I see Him building the cross that’s going to save mankind while He looks straight at me as He does.
So if you come to one of my job sites and you see me with a tear in my eye you now know what I’m seeing. I’m working with my Savior Jesus Christ—Two carpenters hard at work building beautiful things for others—Rejoicing in the day.
Maybe a builder losing his framer is a poor analogy for the biggest problem that was ever solved, but then again I don’t get many chances to solve the worlds problems so I have to work with what I get. The builder’s problem wasn’t that he didn’t have a framer to finish the house, heck I don’t even know if Ron thought about things like plumb, level and pitch. His immediate problem was that he didn’t have a solution and he didn’t know what to do.
His bigger problem was that he didn’t even know where to look. He was just sitting idly by waiting for the solution to show. Now that might work for some if they don’t care about where their eternity’s spent. But if you want an eternity in Heaven, you need to know that you’re on the clock. Time on this earth may be what people neglect and are confused about the most. It’s not how long your’e going to live that one should focus on, it’s are you prepared to die.
Do you have belief and faith in the Savior of this world…have you excepted Jesus solution for eternal life? Time is of the essence, that’s what the world needs to see. Like my wife Jo Jo likes to say, “You better get right, or you’re gonna get left.”
As Christians we all know that the solution is in the book—The Bible holds the truth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Crucifixion on The Cross was the solution to man’s salvation—God offered up the lamb and Jesus paid the price. In God’s most glorious moment the solution of The Cross overcame the rulers of this world.
Jesus solved the worlds greatest problem and never focused on himself. He solved other’s problems and we need to do the same…it’s as simple as that.
Everybody needs to be saved, but stop working to save yourself. If You’ve been born again, Jesus solved your problem, work on somebody else.
We’ve been called to lead the world to see, we must get this truth in our head. Honor Jesus’ sacrifice and return the grace that you’ve received. It’s our time now! We are called to be saviors, Saviors just like Christ. Go be somebodies solution—Go save somebody’s life.
“I tell you the Truth”