Design


Mat 1:17  There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, another fourteen 

	from David to the Babylonian exile, and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian 

	exile to Christ. 


	From the moment the coming of a child is announced to desiring parents 

there is great excitement, anticipation, and planning that is part of preparing for the 

arrival. A special place is made for the child and, as soon as the gender is determined, 

the appropriate decorations and clothing are acquired. Regular doctor's 

appointments are made to monitor the progress of the child in its growth and 

adjustments are made in diet to insure its healthy progress. As movement begins it is 

so wonderful to feel the kicks against the stomach wall and imagine what this child 

will look and act like, with many predictions made based upon these movements. 

Before the person is even seen there is a desire to provide an environment so that 

they might successfully fulfill their potential in life, whatever that might be. 

	This new life's first difficult passage is the one that is into the world of air 

where the safety and restrictions of the womb are no longer there. While it is possibly 

a difficult time with labor required on the mother's part, it is an essential passage 

that makes possible the continuation of this life. From this point on, there will be 

many passages that will include those of a relational and situational nature. Like 

birth, while they may be difficult times that require much effort to pass through, 

there is something in life that can only be attained as they are successfully made. As 

each step is taken and all the preparations are made for success at each stage of life, 

there is never an understanding of the true purpose of this life and the place it has in 

the part of a much higher design. As each moment in this life is experience there is 

no way to have a perspective that is removed enough to perceive how each decision is 

fitting into a much higher design and purpose. 

	The life of each of these men in the 17th verse was a life of great purpose in 

the structure of a very high design. It is hard to imagine, though, that the event of 

each one's conception and the progression of each one's life was even partially 

understood in its importance when it was lived. They progressed through their life 

with the heritage of Abraham as part of their identity, but each one was a life of 

individual gifts, goals, and personality. (Reading each name, it's fun to imagine what 

someone might look like with a name like that.) There were probably visions and 

goals of their parents for them and then the development of their own as they moved 

through their own passages in life. Little did they know, though, that they played a 

part in a design that would result in Jesus' arrival. Each one's life was part of the 

Father's preparation for the presentation of His own Son. They would be one of the 

fourteen in a design of precise passages of time and generations. Their purpose went 

way beyond the success of their day-to-day living. Theirs was of eternal relevance. 

	Whether or not our parents planned for us, and whether or not each step of 

our way has seemed to have any significance, there is a higher design in the life we've 

been given to live. We may never get to see the coming of its ultimate conclusion as 

we may be removed from it by time or distance, but as we've come into a heritage in 

Christ, we've entered into a higher design that is precisely structured by the Great 

Craftsman Himself. Our steps are now ordered of the Lord and our thoughts are 

brought into subjection to His will as each subsequent choice and decision has 

eternal consequence in His design. We have become part of the body of Christ and 

our part is of special importance and purpose. This is not just about us enjoying 

success and abundance, but each progression towards the fullness of life in Christ is 

progress towards the perfection of our part in His design which will yield the fruit of 

righteousness in others. One day we will be able to look back through time and 

understand the importance of each passage of our life and the consequence it had in 

the life of another. Let each step be made and each moment be lived with a growing 

awareness and understanding that it is of eternal importance in the perfect design of 

our loving Father. May His will find a place of fulfillment in our hearts and in our 

lives. 





3/31/04