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Tonya Price
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Carpenter's Tools and Works-in-Progress
star it|leave a comment|January 23, 2009|149 reads
 
The concept of being a tool in the hand of The Carpenter initially may seem to be a radical notion, but it is a wonderful metaphor for the way that God shapes His world through His people. 

In casual use, calling someone another person's "tool" implies that the one referred to as a tool is controlled by the other.  In our culture this is a mildly derogatory assertion, as it is not considered admirable for one person to allow him or herself to be used or controlled by another person. Western society prizes independence and "doing it MY way."

Despite society's love of the lone ranger types, and whether we like the analogy or not, because we were created to be tools, we will be owned and used by someone or something.  If we are not owned and used by the One Who designed and created us, someone or something will step in and take control.  Jesus warns us about this phenomenon as well:

11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 11:22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 11:23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 11:24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 11:25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. 11:26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."


If Jesus is not "in control of our palace," or the Operator of the tool,  no matter how strong we think we are, there will be someone or something- whether it be a controlling person, an addiction, or even too much of what would normally be a good thing, that will come in and take over our hearts and minds.  If we are not The Carpenter's tools, rest assured that we will still be used as tools, and not in a good way.  We may be directed and driven by another person, or by a drive to acquire money or to be successful, or we may be driven by overeating or drunkenness.  The list of improper operators for the human tool is a long list- but all of them eventually lead to destruction both of God's creation and plan, as well as ultimately the tool itself.

The apostle Paul warns us that we have an adversary in this world that wants nothing more than to destroy God's creation and he has no problem using God's own tools to do it.
11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 11:15 So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.


We might think that we are being driven by a good operator, even if we think we are operating ourselves, when in fact we are in the hand of someone or something that is going to destroy us. We might think we are being well directed and doing the right thing when in fact we are doing the very opposite.  Religious leaders who opposed Jesus thought they were doing the right thing too- but as Jesus warned them, they were being controlled by their own father and had nothing to do with God at all.

8:31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 8:33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, 'You will be made free'?" 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. 8:35 The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. 8:36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 8:37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 8:38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." 8:39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, 8:40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. 8:41 You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 8:45 But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."


Technicians, construction workers, plumbers and other skilled workers use tools every day to accomplish their aims.  In the hand of a skilled operator, tools perform essential functions- controlled demolition, cleaning, building, creating. Amazing works of art have been created by paint brushes, chisels and the like, in the hands of skilled artists.  But tools in the hands of unskilled or malicious operators leave only devastation in their wake.

I know I am a work-in-progress, and I must be an awkward tool in The Carpenter's hand.  All I can hope and pray for is that as He uses me to effect His purposes that I too will be improved and refined and changed.

It stands to reason that our Designer and Creator knows exactly how to use the tools He designed and made for His purposes.  Since I was made to be a tool, better to let the One Who designed and created me use me for the purpose He created me for.

 
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