As is, and under new ownership and construction

Jesus Christ willingly purchased us for God with His blood. We were bought "as is," faults, defects, needed renovation included. By faith we are now under His ownership, in the process of remodeling for God's glory. How wonderful that God knew us, loved us, and bought us just as we are. —David McCasland "Our Daily Bread for November 30th, 2014 

Romans 5:8 While we were sinners [rebels, worthless, unworthy, and lost ] Christ died for us.

On November 30th, 2014 I read the devotional provided by Our Daily Bread and I thought David McCasland's hit the nail on the head.  His devotional, and the excerpt captured above were spot on and filled with truth.  God is so good and amazing, He is both Awesome Creator and Wonderful Redeemer.  And, one of His renovation projects is the repair, restoration, salvation, sanctification, and ultimate renewal of one of His precious creations - me.

As a messed up sinner, I  am selfish, angry, hard headed, more hard-hearted than I care to admit, lost, and rebellious.   My heart is often a sinners heart; cold, calloused, distant, prideful, arrogant, rude and unloving.  I  have made so many mistakes, wandered out as a prodigal, dabbled like idolaters of the past, pretended like hypocrites of Jesus' day, denied like Peter, hidden like Adam, been obstinate like David, jealous and hateful like Cain, stubborn like Jonah, rude, brash, and foolish like so many countless others in history.  On top of all these things I've done nameless and shamefully more.

I was lost, wounded, dirty, hurt, angry, and misguided.  Then something amazing happened to this sinner.  Years ago, Christ died for me and His blood purchased me from the dead.  Yes, even before I was born I was purchased from sin, from slavery to sin, and redeemed from my lowest point.  While I was a sinner (Romans 5:8), He died for me.  The truth is like a prodigal I was in a distant land, destined for death, traveling fast and furiously on the road to hell and that is where and when the Savior found me and He rescued me!

He didn't purchase me fixed up, but as McCasland says, He purchased me "As is" warts and all.  He knew about the dents in my character, the bruises on my ego, the empty rooms in my heart, and more.  He was well aquainted with my sin soaked walls, damaged foundation, leaning roof, broken lights, dubious track record, duplicity, and dingy windows.  Point blank, He knew about all my shortcomings and flaws,  He even knew about the ones I  have hidden and still tend to hide from myself and the world.  Its funny how I try to hide from Him, even though I know as David says in the Psalm 139, that we and are ways are not hidden from God.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;    you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

As a another author somewhere once said, God knows me and God sees me as I really am and not as I pretend to be.  Yet, He also sees me as I can be, was made to be, and as He intends for me to be in the end.  He sees me as I am, not as I pretend to be, and graciously He deals with me on this basis.  This is joy and grace - to be seen as I am, and loved anyway!

Yes, I was purchased "As is," but He has no intention to leave me that way.  God's plans include my complete restoration, renovation and regeneration.  I am "a new creation," and even now there is still more work being done to complete my sanctification.  

David McCasland closes his devotional with a strong and reassuring thought for the journey that I'd like to share and close with:

God knows us inside and out. [And] No renovation project is too big for Him.

I  was bought with a price "As is."  I am under new ownership, Christ.  I am under construction of the Eternal and Almighty God.   He is faithful and He will bring it all to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus  Philippians 1:6

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24