P.B.P.G.I.N.T.W.M.Y.

30 years ago, a popular conference leader coined the letters “PBPGINTWMY.” It stood for the phrase, “please be patient; God is not through with me yet.” Incorrect grammar aside, the theology is right on.

That is what God is doing with us: Paul tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). God has a purpose for us to fulfill. He has a task for each of us to accomplish.

Although there has never been a person who, through human effort, has achieved salvation, if someone has really found salvation, there should be visible results of that fact.

There are a lot of people today who claim to be Christians, but there is absolutely no evidence in their lives to confirm it. Works don't save a person, but they are good evidence that he or she is saved.

God has created you as His work of art for good works. He has a work for you to do. He has a plan for your life. Are you finding it? Are you moving in that direction? Or, are you wandering through life saying, "I have salvation, so that takes care of that. Now, back to doing what I want to do"?

The wording of Philippians 2:10 is very important. We were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

As Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate—the man who was judging Him—Jesus said, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11 NKJV).

In other words, "I am moving toward the goal that I have set, and you are just doing what you are doing because this is what you are supposed to do. My Father has prepared the way for Me."

Your Father has prepared the way for you too. Maybe you are facing a setback right now. Maybe there is a crisis in your life. Maybe it seems as though nothing is ever going to change.

Remember, you are a work in progress. You are under construction.God sees what you can become. You may look at yourself and say, "I don't get it. I don't look like a perfect person. My life doesn't look like a work of beauty."

But God would say, "Just hang on. I’m not through with you yet. You need to be patient, because you are a work in progress. It doesn't happen overnight. In fact, it will take all of your life on this earth and won't be completely finished until you get to heaven."

Then you will see that you indeed are a perfect work of art—God's masterpiece.

This Sunday at Gatetree

Our message series "iTruths for an iPod Generation" has been a success. Lives have been changed and committed to Jesus Christ and His church. I will preach the final message in this series this Sunday (March 8) and I'm calling it "iTell." I hope you will be able to join with us. There's always a friendly welcome at Gatetree. Come and get in on it.