The Gazillion Piece Puzzle
Have you ever worked a puzzle? Not just a 25-piece kids puzzle, but a MONSTER challenging puzzle. There is a process you have learned, starting with emptying the box on the table and turning all the pieces over. Then maybe you separate all the edge pieces. Then after the edge pieces you might go to the trouble of organizing like colors or patterns. Then you are ready. You have a clean flat surface to begin building your masterpiece. Maybe you are one of those who props the box top up in front of you. Or maybe you prefer to just keep it close for reference. Perhaps you are more adventurous, and you prefer to work without ever looking at the box. I once worked puzzles face down for fun.
You begin as we all do with the edges first. Why? Because that is how you were taught. It gives you boundaries for the entire picture and you can build from the outside and work inward. It is also the easiest way to begin. It builds confidence for the task ahead. You are certain that every piece needed was in that box. You do not even question it.
So now imagine that God is the puzzle designer. Jesus is the puzzle maker. We, God’s most precious creation, are the unique pieces that fit exactly as designed to form a picture that only God himself truly sees.
Imagine Jesus finding each of us at the right time and using the design by the Father to put us into place. When we get joined to one another there is a simple satisfaction and joy the puzzle maker feels. Imagine Jesus smiling as He finds and places us where we “fit”. Remember how you felt when tackling a complex puzzle the excitement as each piece is found and placed. Jesus’ joy is compounded because the closer this puzzle comes to completion, the closer we are to an eternity where that puzzle will be one with the Puzzle Maker. The goal is more than a picture but a living relationship full of light, life, joy, peace and eternal happiness.
Imagine that day when the puzzle will be finished. Each of us in our place. I just got goosebumps!
What is your role? How do you help the puzzle maker?
The difference between the pieces of God’s puzzle and a puzzle made of paper and cardboard, is that we are living and created for a purpose, unique to the big picture. Alone we make no sense. Our main purpose is to help other pieces turn over so that they can be identified and easily put into place. How do we do that? Relationships. From the very beginning of creation life has been all about relationships.
I recently met my neighbor. She is struggling with so much that I have already lived through. I believe we are put into place next to up-side-down pieces to help flip them over so Jesus can help them find their place. My experiences can help my neighbor to fit into her place. Imagine Jesus smiling as we help one another find their place. We fit together and work together, each piece builds on the next piece.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
“to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:12
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