My wife and I were fortunate enough to live in the house listed on the Historic Registry of places in Kingman. Built in 1910, the house was once the home of the J. Duffy Brown family. The first and former residents of Canada came to Kingman to open a mine.
The home, which has always been beautiful, received a badly needed coat of paint during the time that we lived there. Being that it has four different colors as a part of the craftsman style, the project took three weeks to complete. The painters were meticulous in their work, and we were than satisfied with the result.
Prior, the paint had been oxidized, faded and chipped. The outer beauty of the home had been brought into question; but now, the houses been restored to its former beauty and character.
As I pondered this in my mind, I cannot help but think of man, himself. Created by God as perfect in beauty and character, man, through his disobedience, became stained and worn by the presence of sin. Adam’s disobedience to God was passed upon all men. Thus, all men by our very nature, or in need of forgiveness and salvation. Through faith in His name, Christ Jesus covered us with His precious blood so that we would appear as new, again.
As children, we often play games of various kinds. If our performance was poor, and we failed to excel, we would cry out “Do over!” A second chance to do our best was thought to be in order. We did not want to be thought of as a failure.
Now, as adults, we make mistakes and long for a “do over.” A second chance to get life right is the desire of our heart, as we don’t want to be known by our peers as having failed. An unknown author wrote this verse, saying; “No man can go back and start life over again; but any man can start today and give his life a brand-new end.”
God, as a God of mercy and grace has allowed man the opportunity to experience salvation and forgiveness of sin. He has given us the opportunity to not be seen as sinful and unrighteous men, but to be cleansed and appear before Him as holy and without blame through His love. Paul, in writing to the believers at Ephesus, encourage them with this fact: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).
Just as our love for an old house motivated us to do what we can to make it the very best it can be, so God, in His love for mankind made a way for us to be pure and holy in His sight through His incomprehensible love.
- Pastor Jerry L. Dunn, Oak Street Baptist Church
