Ephesian
2:10 NKJV “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…”
Flat,
I thought as I bent my ear to the mandolin strings. Can't tune
it here, I'll just listen. As a newcomer to the
group I decided to sit on the sidelines and enjoy the Saturday
morning Bluegrass jam session. These regular jam sessions are part of
the great musical culture all over North Carolina and listening to
them will make anyone a Bluegrass lover forever. In my town,
Richard’s Coffee Shop opens their doors to anyone with a stringed
instrument. I knew my grandfather’s mandolin cradled in my
arms, longed to join in. But as a beginning player I didn't want
to add any sour notes to the lively group.
Too
late. A jovial musician spied me in the back of the store and waved
me into the group. With a bit of a stomach flip-flop, I stood up and
walked to the middle of the circle where I scooted into the only open
chair. Maybe I could just pretend to pick my instrument.
My
plan of being low-key and inconspicuous evaporated.
“Where did you get that
instrument?” a grisly guitar player with a flowing beard bellowed.
I didn't know what to say. Is he accusing me of
something? Does he think I borrowed someone else’s?
I
smiled and answered with a sheepish grin. “Well, I pulled this out
of the bottom of my mother’s hall closet. No one had played it for
years so I thought I’d take it for a spin.”
Suddenly, every musician’s eyes fixed
on my instrument. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence
another member spoke up. “What you've got there is a
classic. You’d better get that appraised and
insured.” Hesitantly, a reedy banjo player leaned
over and asked if he could hold it for just a minute. “I won’t
even play it,” he assured me. “It’s a treasure.”
In 2 Corinthians 4:17, it says “We
have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing
power is from God and not us.” Hidden inside of us God has
placed His gem, the indwelling of His spirit in our earthly bodies.
The container may have dents, cracks, and chips. Part of the
glaze may have worn off of the exterior but God still sees us as
treasures.
Isn't it just like God to
rummage through a dusty coat closet and haul us out to be used
for His purposes? He doesn't want to waste anyone’s life
stuffed in some gloomy dark storage area. And not only does he
use us for His plans, He also takes great joy in passing us around to
be admired as His treasures. To God, we are His “classics”.
