I have a confession to make. Having grown up on a farm where I learned to be a “Jack of All Trades and Master of None”, I still fancy myself quite good at certain tasks. Among them is construction – at least the form of construction I was taught.
And what form of construction was that? To build most anything necessary out of most anything handy! We’ve all heard the old adage about all that is needed on a farm is a pair of plyers, a roll of duct tape, a can of WD-40, and some bailing twine. For my part, I lived that!
But back in the day, we did more than repair things; we also built things. Things like hay barns and livestock corrals and cattle chutes and horse stalls and chicken coops and hog pens. And along the way, I became quite skilled at the use of things like tape measures and skill saws and hammers and nails, not to mention vice grips, plyers, wrenches, and screwdrivers.
Thus it is that these days, I find myself unafraid to tackle various projects around the house and barn where we live. There is one thing that has changed though. My sons keep charge of the tools. And they are now more modern. So, when I construct things, I now use cordless power tools, such as drills and saws. I also utilize screws far more than nails.
Hence, it was with some alacrity that I plunged ahead with a recent project, wherein I constructed some small wooden supports in order to add a short concrete walkway that would provide all weather access to a side door of the barn. After measuring and cutting the boards, I placed them in position and prepared to drill them into the previously placed supports.
I grabbed a handful of screws and began assembling the assortment of lumber into a recognizable concrete support brace when, about halfway through the process, one of the screws was anything but cooperative. I slapped the head of the screw, configured as a Phillips Head, into the bit on the drill and drilled away. Only, unlike what had happened with the previous ten or so screws, this time nothing happened.
Drill as I might, with as much pressure as I could apply, the screw would simply not bite into the wood. More perturbed than puzzled, I paused to investigate. The problem was soon evident enough. What had purported to be a screw was in fact more of a nail than a screw. Sure it was long and cylindrical. And sure, it had the standard Phillips Head configuration on its head. But that is where the similarities ended!
And what form of construction was that? To build most anything necessary out of most anything handy! We’ve all heard the old adage about all that is needed on a farm is a pair of plyers, a roll of duct tape, a can of WD-40, and some bailing twine. For my part, I lived that!
But back in the day, we did more than repair things; we also built things. Things like hay barns and livestock corrals and cattle chutes and horse stalls and chicken coops and hog pens. And along the way, I became quite skilled at the use of things like tape measures and skill saws and hammers and nails, not to mention vice grips, plyers, wrenches, and screwdrivers.
Thus it is that these days, I find myself unafraid to tackle various projects around the house and barn where we live. There is one thing that has changed though. My sons keep charge of the tools. And they are now more modern. So, when I construct things, I now use cordless power tools, such as drills and saws. I also utilize screws far more than nails.
Hence, it was with some alacrity that I plunged ahead with a recent project, wherein I constructed some small wooden supports in order to add a short concrete walkway that would provide all weather access to a side door of the barn. After measuring and cutting the boards, I placed them in position and prepared to drill them into the previously placed supports.
I grabbed a handful of screws and began assembling the assortment of lumber into a recognizable concrete support brace when, about halfway through the process, one of the screws was anything but cooperative. I slapped the head of the screw, configured as a Phillips Head, into the bit on the drill and drilled away. Only, unlike what had happened with the previous ten or so screws, this time nothing happened.
Drill as I might, with as much pressure as I could apply, the screw would simply not bite into the wood. More perturbed than puzzled, I paused to investigate. The problem was soon evident enough. What had purported to be a screw was in fact more of a nail than a screw. Sure it was long and cylindrical. And sure, it had the standard Phillips Head configuration on its head. But that is where the similarities ended!
To begin with, its long sleek sides were quite smooth. It lacked any threads. What is more, the bottom of the so-called screw was as flat as the proverbial fiddle. It had no point. The long cylindrical sides ended abruptly in a flat, round bottom. As such, it could not bite the wood. Nor could it ever hope to penetrate if it did. In short, it was a nail in screw’s clothing. And not even a good one at that!
And what do you suppose it did with it? That’s right! In the heat of the moment, I cast it aside and went on with the task at hand, quickly replacing it with another, more fitting and suitable screw in order to get the job done!
But later, I retrieved it. And I’m sure glad that I did. For it will forever remind me of the difference between the real thing and a pretender!
Jesus spoke often about such things. Not so much in terms of construction (although He was carpenter). Instead, he talked about the difference between sheep and goats and between wheat and tares. His point in all of this is that not everything that purports to be something else is in fact what it claims to be!
And the same is true of people. To quote Him exactly (from His famed “Sermon on the Mount” in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verse 21-23):
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Ouch! Talk about threadbare! If we purport to be followers of Jesus, then we had very well better be authentic and genuine with regard to both our calling and our character! Otherwise, we are mere pretenders whose deception is destined to be revealed in the Lord’s own time and way!
Given all of this, I pray I am found to be a genuine and authentic follower and servant of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Do you?
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/7.htm.
PICTURE SOURCE:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/fb5cdv/this_screw_didnt_come_with_threads/. Apparently, I am not the only one to encounter this problem.
SEE ALSO:
Jesus on Sheep and Goats: https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/25.htm;
Jesus on Wheat and Tares: https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm.
And what do you suppose it did with it? That’s right! In the heat of the moment, I cast it aside and went on with the task at hand, quickly replacing it with another, more fitting and suitable screw in order to get the job done!
But later, I retrieved it. And I’m sure glad that I did. For it will forever remind me of the difference between the real thing and a pretender!
Jesus spoke often about such things. Not so much in terms of construction (although He was carpenter). Instead, he talked about the difference between sheep and goats and between wheat and tares. His point in all of this is that not everything that purports to be something else is in fact what it claims to be!
And the same is true of people. To quote Him exactly (from His famed “Sermon on the Mount” in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verse 21-23):
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Ouch! Talk about threadbare! If we purport to be followers of Jesus, then we had very well better be authentic and genuine with regard to both our calling and our character! Otherwise, we are mere pretenders whose deception is destined to be revealed in the Lord’s own time and way!
Given all of this, I pray I am found to be a genuine and authentic follower and servant of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Do you?
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/7.htm.
PICTURE SOURCE:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/fb5cdv/this_screw_didnt_come_with_threads/. Apparently, I am not the only one to encounter this problem.
SEE ALSO:
Jesus on Sheep and Goats: https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/25.htm;
Jesus on Wheat and Tares: https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm.