I have always enjoyed construction. As far back as I can remember I have loved to build things, create things and sometimes
disassemble and reassemble things. Now I really don't think I am great at any specific building activity but I suppose I am good at many things. I can wire a house almost with my eyes closed. I can frame houses, dig trenches with a backhoe and I can build a pretty awesome deck (drive by my house and see my latest creation!)
When I think of all the different trades and different stages of building there is one I absolutely despise. I HATE CONCRETE FLAT WORK! There! I said it and I mean it. I do not now nor have I ever been excited to pour concrete unless I was filling a trench for a footer. That flat work stuff is for better men than me. However, when my arm is twisted hard enough I will do it but I will go on record to say I will not like it. But just so you know I love the finished product. There is nothing more satisfying than to knock the forms off a large patio or a sidewalk you poured the day before.
Now if you are wondering where I am going I will tell you now. To me, the Christian walk is a like like pouring concrete. Some parts of the believers walk (no pun intended) are filled with things we don't like. Loving people who are hard to love. Rejoicing when we are sad or upset. Praising God when we can hardly make it through the day. Praying as a first reaction instead of a last ditch effort for relief. You know, those hard parts of the walk of faith.
But, just like pouring concrete you have to do the hard stuff to enjoy the hard stuff (pun intended). That is the finished product (another pun).
When we began building our new church facility last year I befriended our concrete contractor. Bill Gillihan is a born-again believer who was excited about being able to pour the concrete for our new structure. Bill has an excellent working knowledge of the concrete business. He knows how to bid jobs, how to calculate batches and how to prepare the site for the pour. (He also knows how to work around raindrops). But for all of Bill's vast knowledge of concrete he sums up his vocation in three simple phrases. These phrases are practical (metaphorically speaking) to every believer. While they may not seem so profound they truly do sum up the world of concrete...and what I call Concrete Christianity.
1. Concrete cracks. Yes, it seems no matter how hard a person tries it is inevitable that somehow, somewhere the concrete will crack.
2. Concrete gets hard. Once it is mixed there is no stopping it! Even under water concrete will harden and once it sets, you can't do a thing with it.
3. Concrete never gets stolen from a job site. No where have I ever heard of thieves running off with an eighty yard-sized slab 4 inches thick!
So the connection to the believer is this.
1. No matter how well we may feel like we are put together (poured) we will have flaws. Too often we believe we won't "crack" under pressure. I believe we need to realize we are not perfect and never will be this side of eternity. One thing that impressed me about Bill was his honesty in letting us know up front that no concrete pour is ever perfect.
2. The believer is to exhibit the distinguishing characteristics that make us what we are and shows the world what we are supposed to be. There are different types of concrete and many different uses but the basic properties are always the same. Concrete gets hard thus distinguishing it from mud, or grass or the clouds in the sky. Concrete is obvious, are you as a believer?
3. Once poured it stays put! Well sometimes it can be pre-fabbed and transported from place to place but not flat work. Once that stuff hits the ground and hardens it stays. So should the presence of Christ within the believer. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Read Romans 8, especially verses 38-39 and see how convinced Paul was of this fact.
Concrete Christianity! Now that is a hard subject to dive into huh?
