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A Spiritual Application From Furniture
There are many people who cannot afford to go into a furniture store and purchase a piece of furniture. Many like me have learned to appreciate the prefabricated items that are sold in different stores. Yes, these are the kind you buy, take home, and assemble. There is much saving involved by doing it yourself. I have bought and built desks, TV stands, bookcases, armoires, and storage cabinets. I have learned through experience to follow the instructions very precisely. Otherwise the item does not last or perform as it is supposed to do.

Here is where the spiritual application comes in. We learn that if we follow the instructions that we will get our desired product. The Bible is the instruction book from God, and we should learn that if we follow the instructions in the Bible that a desired result of salvation and eternal life will be the result.

Many of you will be able to relate to this as you have probably put such furniture together yourself. Let us examine how this is done. Usually as I get the product home and prepare to assemble it, I take all the pieces out and lay them on the floor. I check the instruction sheet and verify that I have all the tools and pieces needed for the assembly. What I have before me is everything I need to assemble and then use as it is intended to be used. This reminds me of 2 Peter 1:3 where the Bible exclaims that we have EVERYTHING pertaining to life and godliness. In other words, there are no add-ons or changes that need to be made. We also learn that if we leave things out according to the instructions that our project very well would be a failure.

The instructions include the steps that need to be taken to assemble this item properly. As usual, we learn that we must do the steps in order as given; otherwise we have to go back and undo what we may have attempted to do earlier. This should remind us that there are also steps to achieve in the plan of salvation.

As the manufacturer has everything ready to go, so God also has put in place everything we need for salvation. Some of the steps we need to follow are just natural, as we must hear the gospel first before we can believe it. Next realizing that we have sinned against God, we seek the steps to make things right with Him. We repent of our sins, and turn away from the sinful things we have done. Next we confess our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Then we are baptized for the remission of sins. From this point, we live a faithful life.

This is like the construction of our furniture. Once we have assembled it, we need to use it properly as it was designed to be used. This is like living a faithful life in keeping our word to God that we have dedicated ourselves to Him for life.

Once we have taken the steps to receive salvation, we continue by following the instructions to learn how to get the most out of our life. The manufacturer also gives a list of things we can do to enhance the life of the product and how to get the most use out of it. This comes from following the pattern or instructions precisely. Every part doing what it is designed to do as we read in Ephesians 4:16.

By Carey Scott

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