The pen analogy

1. The pen analogy 2-7-10

2. We all start out ugly • All of us had the same life threatening illness when we were born – sin • We can clean up the outside, but inside there is still a gap, a hole, a need, that we want to fill • The world and false religions offer a fix, but in the end, we still find ourselves rough around the edges

3. Insert slide of log

4. Something cuts through • Many things can cut us to the core • A life threatening illness • An addiction that we want freedom from • Disappointment, despair, frustration, insignificance, insecurity, and many others • We can either learn from it, or reject it • If we yield to it, and look to Jesus for our help, we just may be amazed to see what is inside

5. Insert slide of cut portion of log

6. Working out our salvation • The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He never forces His way in • We must choose to submit portions of us for continued refinement, or we can be comfortable – it is our choice • If we want to continue the submission, we find that His Word is a two edged sword that will continue to cut to our core

8. Its His kindness that leads us to repentance • As we submit, we see His love. As we begin to see it, what had been discipline to us becomes joy • We see the changes He’s brought into our lives, and we want more of that change • We are filled with a desire to be more and more like Him • We ask Him to continue to remove the edges

9. Photo of the gouge on the edges

10. We are transformed more and more • Instead of seeing the rough edges, our shape begins to look more like him, more rounded, more smooth, we continue to take shape • Spiritual Gifts • Heart • Abilities • Personality • Experience

11. Round, but still rough

12. Are we settled yet? • As long as we continue to seek Him, He will continue to refine us • Conviction, Correction, and Criticism can all be embraced or rejected • That abrasion continues to uncover blemishes, take off deeper edges, and continue to refine our shape

13. Sand paper on the wood

14. Trials come • We are to count it all joy • Some things won’t be removed from us unless heat is added first • That heat can break down the walls, molecular bonds, and structures that we’ve built up in years past • That heat burnishes and polishes the shape of our lives and brings out more luster

15. Polished up blanks

16. The grits continue to increase • As long as we continue to press in and draw near, we will continue to show more of His glory • We can spiritually stop any time we want, but we will not reveal the next level of His shine

17. Finished, polished, and sealed up blanks

18. Our lives become the pens He uses to write on the hearts of the world.

20. And we stand amazed • Who would have ever thought that such beauty could come from such ugliness • Who would have been patient enough to remove the cracks, blemishes, and fissures of our lives to leave behind only the things that honor Him • Who would have thought that He would choose you or I to be that instrument

21. Submit to Him so that He could cut away the ugliness (salvation) • Allow Him to remove the rough edges to form you into the shape He desires • Don’t run away from the abrasion of life, allow it to shine you up • Allow Him to write the story of your life on the hearts of this world