I sometimes catch episodes of the house edition of the Extreme Makeover TV show. On a recent episode, a husband with three sons lost his young wife to disease. The challenge was to preserve some of the things that were specially done by the wife, Ann Marie, while in essence tearing down the entire house. The entire neighborhood turned out to watch and encourage the army of construction workers who made a beautiful house, with many extras that went way beyond what the family could have probably ever afforded on their own. $150,000 was gathered from friends and family. Many tears were shed as the family members went into the new home with the father and his three boys.

God is into doing Extreme Makeovers too. God created us as perfect homes for Himself. He created Adam and Eve perfect, in his image. But when they left their creator for a life on their own, their bodies, their earthly homes, were not fit places for the almighty God to dwell. God is not just a name used in anger. (Why don’t we say, O Napoleon, or O Caesar? Why is it O My God?) God is our GOD! God is shaken to the depth of His being by what we consider normal, tolerable behavior. Anything that does not go on in our houses, our bodies, as he designed it, is sin, rebellion, self-centeredness. I hear so many people these days who believe that humans are basically good, God loves everyone, and we have free will in matters of our eternal life. We have it made, we might think.

God’s extreme makeover, for which it is our DUTY to thank and praise, serve and obey (Luther’s Small Catechism), took place as the Father destroyed His own Son instead of us. How odd if they tore down the neighbor’s house and the house in the show magically would change! Though we often think of ourselves as wrecked homes with clutter of an old life that will not go away, God has made us over, in His image and likeness through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Holy Baptism, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit made us new, extremely new, new enough to never wear out. We are empowered to function as holy creatures, holy households. He saved us from the wrecking ball of an eternity apart from Him, at the cost of His blood, shed on the cross for us. We worship and praise Him and we ask Him to use His love in us to make others over. He has the plan. We are the carpenters, electricians, etc.

When you hear the cries of distress in your own life, in those deep dark tragic moments, hear the Good News. When you hear others pouring out their heart in grief, trust that the power of Christ can help them too. Yes, we are always under construction. God is transforming us to grow in using our gifts. He makes us more than mere functioning beings. He makes each of us special. The perfect plan of God is unfolding. Come to worship and Bible study to hear of this love.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp