Particle board is a specific type of wood. It can technically be classified as wood. I mean if you break down what characteristics make up "wood" particle board fits at least some or even most of them. Particle board is 'wood' that is made from sawdust. When sawmills cut pieces of lumber down to size there is alot of scrap that is shredded as sawdust. This sawdust is swept up, combined with a glue type mixture and when it dries you have some fake cheap wood. This particle board is commonly found on cheap furniture.
Oak wood on the other hand is an incredibly durable wood. It can certainly be classified as a wood. It's cut down from a very sturdy tree and trimmed to perfect pieces of lumber, it's used for more high quality and longer lasting furniture.
Christians relate to this simple analogy quite well. We all start as planted tree. Some of us die to ourselves. We are cut down. Our old purpose removed. But by grace we are given a new purpose. To serve our purpose we are trimmed. We are polished. We are made into something new. We are called to furniture. We are called to be bookshelves.
The fact is that there are some Christians out there, that are particle board bookshelves. They at one time were cut down, and given a new purpose. But they stayed with the scrap. They couldn't deal with the stresses of the trimming and polishing. The clung to a 'filler' some glue mixture that made them feel whole again. They clung to this filler so badly that it became a part of them. When this type of Christian is made into a bookshelf it often falls apart quickly.
As bookshelves God wants to fill us with more books. He wants to fill us with authenticity and he wants to empower us to to become beautiful furniture pieces. The fact is that particle board Christians aren't able to take on more books. When they reach capacity they begin to fall apart. As particle board falls apart it cannot be repaired unless with more glue, as it cannot be held together well with hardware (nails, screws, etc) because it will fall apart more. A particle board bookshelf looks like a regular bookshelf. It indeed has books on it. It might look sturdy and reliable, it might look full of wisdom, but on the inside this particle board person is falling apart. Some people out there may even swear that the bookshelf is totally genuine. "High Quality" a sign in a sales department might even read. But the fact is that even in the confusion of identity. Particle board is always particle board.
The true wood on the other hand, endures. It can be treated and sealed and last for hundreds, even thousands of years. It can be nice to look at, as the works of its life are apparent. It can continue to grow and contain more and more books, and not break down. This doesn't mean that there is no stress on the shelves. The weight of the books bear down greatly on the true wood. But through being trimmed, polished, and treated by a good keeper it will continue to serve its purpose for a lifetime.
The fact is that God calls us to be true wood bookshelves. Not particle board, imitation bookshelves. Even if we confuse our friends, our family, and our church, God is not confused. He cannot give us more books or repair us if we are living as a particle board person.
What hope does a particle board person have? This is the good news; they have hope, and great hope. Because God can separate them from their glue. Heal their life and replant them as a tree. Through nourishment of a good keeper they will grow into a true oak. After which time God can again use them to become a true bookshelf.
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