Renovations seem to be going on everywhere. Call it a "face-lift" to a better life. One highway department alerted drivers with the electric words: "Be Prepared to be Irritated for the next 20 miles." You might say that our government is about to do the same in two days. Some promises that have been made might actually be fulfilled. I hope all of you who can will vote. Businesses go through their own renovations with hammer and chisel. Then with hammer and saw and paint and much skill, a new look is given to a tired place. Why, right here in Central Church many are praying about what a "face-lift" will do for us and our ministry.

Renovations were going on because of Jesus that day. Through a grainfield and in the synagogue, He broke down old walls of tradition. He framed a new view of life. He invited us to look at life the way He did. Those who "looked in" to what He was doing were shocked...some with horror and others with joy. He declared, SOMETHING GREATER THAN THE TEMPLE IS HERE! Some understood immediately and welcomed Him into their lives. They were changed! He became the vital power in their lives. Those who rejected Him missed living!

Recall the tension in the grainfield. The disciples followed Jesus, JUST AS THEY WERE. Rough and ready, for the most part. Unschooled and basic. Walking through the field they knew that they could pick ripe grain and eat it, so long as they did not cut it. But when they rubbed the chaff from the wheat, that others made themselves known. They too came JUST AS THEY WERE. They made sure everyone kept the finer points of the Law. They "blew the whistle" on Jesus. "You are working on the Sabbath. You are breaking the Law." Jesus was about to renovate their thinking. Flashes of discovery came to them. This would be one of those times.

When they arrived at "church" that day, another man entered the place. He needed to be there. You see, he was shut out from the Temple. He had a withered hand. A man with any physical deformity could not enter Temple and be part of the worshipers, by Law. How did it happen? A kick of a horse...or a wagon wheel trap him? We do not know. But he came to worship that day, JUST AS HE WAS! They all came to that place that day, into the presence of Jesus. Some of them were going to be changed- renovated for real living. Something greater than the Temple was there that day. That same Lord is here today. How did you come today?

No matter how you came, He is pleased to see you. Maybe you are a little tired from a busy week, or a late night. Perhaps your clothes are not quite right, but presentable. You are here. Some of you might feel like the man with the withered hand, but on the inside, where only God and you know. Damage you did to yourself. Hasty words spoken. Now, a relationship withered up. Perhaps friends crushed you with their words and lack of love. There might be one or two near you who pretend to be religious. But they really want only to catch people in their sins. Well, friends, COME AS YOU ARE. BUT DO NOT LEAVE AS YOU CAME.

That was a phrase written as a "Welcome" sign over a chapel door in the highlands of Scotland. The words welcomed people to come - God loves us the way we are. But the sign also revealed something else: something good can happen to you, if you are open to renovations by Jesus Christ! He takes us from the way we are...to the way He wants us to be! That’s His best work!

"Renovations under way. Something new and wonderful will soon be ready for you." That was a sign in a department store going through their own remodeling. That’s a pretty good sign for any of us to wear. "Renovations under way. Something new and wonderful will soon be ready for you." I began to think about it. By the grace of God, I have changed from the way I was last year. And by His grace in me, I hope that I will be more like Christ next year. Don’t you want that kind of change in your life, too? We all might behave a little better toward each other, if we could see that sign on each of us.

Would you like to see Christ work His renovations in you, too? You like to see yourself changing, growing, developing into all that Christ wants for you. Others around you need to be aware...just a little more patient while God does His work in you.

One man had a motto on the top of his desk: THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TODAY! He had suffered tremendous loss in his business. He joined a few Christian business men for support. One of the men kept him encouraged with those words. Through his failures, he discovered how much he needed Jesus Christ. Recovered, finally, he took time to tell all who would listen of the simple lesson he learned. "I am not the person I used to be. And, by God’s grace, I will be not be the person tomorrow that I am today!"

Friends, there’s hope for you. No matter how you come to Christ, COME AS YOUR ARE, BUT DON’T LEAVE AS YOU CAME. You and I begin with Him in the Christian life. We grow in Him, through worship, study, prayer and experience in life. We must be open to Him, with our thoughts, our moods, and all the messy things that we cannot control. What is eating at your "inner person"? What part of your life do you want Him to renovate? Perhaps you want to be more generous with your money. He will give you opportunities to give. Then, you will see Him supply your needs in wonderful and exciting ways.

What will you do with the person who seems to poison the air around you when you meet? He will give you opportunities to be His love to that person whom you want to get even with. That is renovation!.

Christ wants to renovate every one of us. When we open up ourselves to Him, He shows us where He wants to work, and how we can cooperate. He shows us how to restore broken relationships and to heal broken hearts.

We might be primitive or paralyzed or proud. But if we take time, even now, in the middle of this worship service....we will not leave as we came! Watch Him enter into our lives. He comes like Isaiah said, ".. a battered reed He will not break...a smoldering wick, He will not put out.." He moves in, takes away sins crushing us, or failure burying us. He removes its power, and replaces it with His own love. You see, NOTHING HAS TO REMAIN THE SAME! He is able to renovate us - to transform us INSIDE OUT. That happens when we allow Him in! We CAN change with Him. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation!" Come as you are, but don’t leave as you came.

Come to the table. See our Lord offering the bread. Is there something withered up inside? When you stretch out your hand to receive the bread, ask Jesus to bring life back into something withered in your life....that was dead...that was crushed...things only He can restore. When you reach out your hand to accept the cup of the Lord, invite Him to wash you through and through with His love for you. Allow those few drops of juice to be a physical reminder of what He is doing in your heart and mine!

Come to the Lord’s table! Meet Jesus Christ, however you are and whatever way you came. THERE’S HOPE FOR YOU! SOMETHING NEW AND WONDERFUL IS ON ITS WAY! We are changed, renovated, transformed into His likeness.

Why, if you are not careful, if you are reckless in your love for Him, you will not leave here in the same way. You will be changed more and more into the way He looks. And then, when you and I enter the gates of heaven, you will almost hear the angels say to us entering, "Oh, how much like Jesus you are!"