…all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross (Colossians 1:19 MSG).

I love a good organization project! Last year I and some other staff members worked to revamp the main storage space at our Pittsboro campus at Chatham Mills. On the staff calendar we jokingly named the task “Cleaning the Catacombs,” because the space was dark and damp and disorganized. To open the door of that room had sparked feelings of frustration for long enough!

The dream team assembled, and we got right to work. First we took everything out of the room, then we separated what was useful from the junk. We repaired and repurposed some things, and we threw out the unnecessary. We added to and rearranged the existing shelving and installed new lighting. Lastly, we put everything that was left back in the now brightly lit and organized storage space.

Everything in that room finally fit together in efficiency and harmony, and the dream team rejoiced and called it GOOD. 

We’re talking about The Hope of Glory in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and let’s be real. In so many ways our lives are like that dark and damp and disorganized catacomb-closet. Jesus loves a good organization project, too! He’s the Master Reorganizer, Restorer, and Renovator, and He applies his work on the Cross to our confusing and messed up lives. HE is the reason WE can have hope. Unlike our closet-cleaning project, we who made the mess of our lives actually can’t clean it up, but we know who can. His sacrifice on the cross made sure everything is “properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies.” 

It's hard to keep hope at the forefront of our minds when living in a world that feels more catacomb-like every day, but it’s there! Our lives have purpose and hope abounds…no matter what the other side of the door looks like or how it makes you feel. 

The work Jesus accomplished on the Cross puts to right all the mess and chaos we live in. We see some evidence of that hope fulfilled now–perhaps like the handful of folks who happened to stop by Chatham Mills mid-Catacomb cleaning project. The whole situation got messier before it got better, but there was evidence all along of the end goal.

How wonderful it will be to see everything properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies! Hope will be completely fulfilled, we will rejoice, and all will call it GOOD.

A page from Pastors Alex’s and Jaime’s playbook, if you may: 

May you go today knowing that your hope is secure, whether you feel it or not. May your interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers be laced with the love of Christ, knowing that His work on the Cross is mending everything broken and putting it in its right place. Go in peace!