THE PIECE MAKER
By Shilpa Pauli.
In this world, broken things are despised and thrown out. Anything we no longer need, we throw away. Damaged goods are rejected, and that includes people. The world is full of people with broken hearts, broken spirits and broken relationships. We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn. Only hope we can have is when we accept the reality that God Himself visited this world to redeem. We receive his poured-out life and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.
The Psalmist in 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. We often wish we could escape troubles – the pain of grief, loss, failure or even the small daily frustrations that wear us down. We spiral down into confusion and keep on seeking answers as to why the same happened. God here promises to be “close to the broken hearted”; to be the source of courage, peace, discernment, wisdom and knowledge to help us out through our trials. When trouble strikes, key is to not get frustrated with God but to admit that we need God’s help and thank Him for being by your side.
There is something about reaching a breaking point that causes us to seek the Lord more sincerely. King David was once a broken man, and he prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” Psalm 51-10, 17. Because we are born sinners, our natural inclination is to please flesh rather than God. King David followed the same inclination when he took wife of Uriah, the Hithite. But when his sin was reminded David sought cleansing and forgiveness from God. Similarly we must ask God to cleanse us inside out, filling our hearts and spirit with divine thoughts and desires. Right conduct can come only from a clean heart and spirit. God wants a broken spirit and a broken and repentant heart.
The solution can never come from our own efforts or striving but comes only from Him. Only when we recognize our need for God are we able to take our eyes off ourselves and focus them on God and Jesus Christ. Only when we stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about what Jesus did for us can we begin to heal. Only when we admit our need and ask God into our life, can God begin to make us whole. Only when we confess that we are broken can God make us into what He wants us to be. We can never please God by our actions – no matter how good – if our heart attitude is not right. Once we let go of self and place God at the center of our lives, everything else falls into place. There are some things in our lives that need to be broken: pride, self-will, stubbornness, and sinful habits, for example. When we feel our brokenness, God compensates: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).
While brokenness may be an abstract concept, it has concrete implications, a few being personal and intimate relationship with God, surrender, shattering our own will so that all our responses are filled with the Holy Spirit, joyfully receiving trials, opening the door to revival blessing.
God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is broken Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.
During the final week of Jesus’ life, He was eating a meal, and “a woman came with an alabaster jar - very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head” - Mark 14:3. The woman’s action of breaking the alabaster jar was symbolic of a couple of things: Jesus would soon be “broken” on the cross, and all who follow Him must be willing to be “broken” as well. That beautiful fragrance in the alabaster box could not be enjoyed until the container was broken. The result of such costly brokenness is beautiful, indeed.
The Bible says the stone which the builders rejected (Jesus) became the head of the corner. Our Lord said, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Lk. 20:18). The choice is ours: fall fresh upon the chief Cornerstone (Jesus – The Piece Maker) and be broken, or have the Cornerstone fall upon us! It is only through brokenness that our lives become acceptable to God and useful in Kingdom purposes.