Jesus, Our Template

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)

God is committed to the task of conforming you and me to the image of His Son. Not physically—He’s not making us look like Jesus looked physically—but inwardly: in character, in patience, in gentleness, in goodness, in grace, in truth, in discipline. He’s committed to conforming our lives to the inner character of His Son.

Years ago, I worked as an apprentice in a machine shop. One of the lathes I learned to operate was a tracer lathe. It had an air-controlled “finger” that traced its way along a fixed template. The template was an exact pattern of what was to be turned out on the lathe. And as this very sensitive little finger followed along the template, its every movement caused the tool that was cutting the metal to cut that exact shape. When I finished, I had a finished product from the lathe that was a precise replica of the template.

Again, that is the Father’s specialty. He places His finger on the template—His Son. And He watches over His workmanship. At times the tool bites in, causing the heat to increase because of the friction. We squirm and may even try to get away. But we are His workmanship, and the Father won’t let us go. He holds us tightly in the lathe of His will. His goal is that we bear the image of His Son. That’s the Father’s task. He’s committed to it. He’s changing us.

Speaking of our being the Father’s workmanship, look at Ephesians 2:10. Another verse brimming with encouragement!

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB)

Look again at those first five words: “For we are His workmanship.” We’re His project. He’s got His eye on us. He knows what our tomorrow holds. He knows what the year will hold for us. And He is working on His project all year long. He’s shaping and moulding and making us like He wants us to become.