"In the Master Craftsman's Hands"
Karin Paparelli

When we purchased our home 12 years ago, I discovered an old dresser in the attic. I just loved it. It was very old and had so much character. Although it had been painted and was now covered with chipped ivory paint, it still had a lovely shape with curves in the front, claw feet and glass knobs on the drawers. I had always thought that someday, when we finished our attic, it would add a touch of charm and romance, and so in the attic it stayed. Every now and then I'd go into the attic to storage something and be reminded of my plans to refinish that marvelous old dresser. I could easily envision the piece as it must have been many years ago, and I looked forward to the day when it would be restored to it's original beauty.

Earlier this year we began the adoption process, with plans to adopt a baby girl from China. This will increase our family of five to six, and while our home is suitable for another child, the time has finally come to finish our attic. I began to empty the attic, sorting through 12 years of accumulated junk! (I think I may be related to the pac-rats!) With the help of a friend the attic was emptied of almost all of it's contents, with the exception of a wonderful antique chair in need of re-upholstering and that old dresser. I decided to refinish the dresser right there in the attic. There was plenty of room, and two big windows for ventilation. So, I went shopping to gather supplies and at long last I set about my work.

I followed the directions and applied a thick layer of stripper onto the surface of the dresser. I have never done this before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I waited about twenty minutes and then began to scrape the old, loosened paint off. It came off like goop (a wet, sticky, slimy substance) A very messing job. Well one coat of paint off, how many more to follow? I applied another coat of stripper. Waited. Scraped again. More goop. But now I could see the color of the wood underneath, streaked with ivory paint. Just a hint of the finished product encouraged me to continue although the work was hard, messy and long. More coats of stripper, more waiting and more scraping. Now I could plainly see the beauty of the wood. I became excited and showed Tony, my husband, the progress. I beamed over my work as I indicated to him that it looked like the dresser was solid Mahogany! He laughed and reminded me I still needed to sand it in order to discover the original wood. What I was seeing was just a stain finish applied to the wood. That was just the top of the dresser, by far the easiest part. Next came those beautiful, curved drawers. Not so easy. And still those claw feet. I had all the tools required; scrapers of varying sizes, nylon scrubbing pads, a copper brush, sand paper, gloves and stripper of course. Each layer removed would reveal more work to be done. And with each layer the work became more detailed, requiring even more of my attention. As I worked I prayed and talked to God. In the quiet of the attic it was easy to hear His voice. He taught me through my own work how His work with us is similar.

He sees His church as that spotless & pure bride. He doesn't just see our present condition but He also sees what we were meant to be. We too begin with layers upon us, not unlike paint. We have become covered by the sin of the world, by the desires of our flesh. Layers that hide our true beauty as His bride. But He loves us too much to leave us in this state. So He too takes His stripper (the washing of the Word, the blood of Jesus) and applies it to our lives. He lets it soak in, down deep and then gently begins to remove the layers of sin, of worldliness, of rejection and pain. The first few layers come off rather quickly and almost effortlessly. But He is a detailed craftsman and no spot or blemish will do. So He painstakingly removes every imperfection that would hinder the beauty of His holiness and glory from shining through. When at last every bit of soil has been removed and we think we can see the true qualities within, He sands away the varnish and stain of self concept, until we are naked and unashamed in His presence. It is only then that he can pour His anointing upon us. Only after he has removed all that covers, all that disguises. Only when we have become truly transparent can He use us to reveal His glory to the world. It is only then that the world will see the church in Her restored condition. Restored to her former glory, without corruption or compromise, the result of her yielding and His loving devotion to his bride.

And what about us? How is it for us to be stripped in this manner? Most of the time we cannot see what the Master sees. We can only surrender when we feel the scraping and sanding in our lives. But be assured, the result of such refinishing will be worth the wait.

My friends the time is drawing near for the marriage of the Lamb. Do not be mistaken, the Bride of Christ will be ready. The only question is, will you? May you walk in His grace. Thy Kingdom Come!

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