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This is our newest quarantine activity in the Do Something Different category. We want to find fun things to do together away from digital screens. Since neither Jody nor I have done a puzzle since we were kids, maybe we should have started off this time with a less ambitious project than a 1,000 piece puzzle!
As we're working on it, I can't help thinking about how understanding the Bible is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together ... at first it's all just lots of scattered pieces. Very overwhelming. But you start with the easiest most basic part then work your way through by grouping similar colors and features together. One piece helps you find another piece. In time those similar clusters start connecting. Later, dissimilar groups start connecting and the picture starts coming into focus.
There's always those difficult sections and puzzle pieces too. Sometimes you think a piece goes somewhere -- it almost fits, but not quite -- but each interlocking piece must be in its correct spot or it will throw everything off. And you could have sworn those blue pieces were sky ... but as more of the puzzle took shape, you realized they were water and belong in a totally different quadrant of the picture. You have to keep referring to the photo on the box over and over, without that you'll be totally lost and unable to successfully complete it. And sometimes there's just those few missing pieces. As you can see from our photo, on this puzzle Jody & I couldn't find one piece of the edge. We knew it was in that jumbled pile somewhere because we bought the puzzle brand new and shrinkwrapped, we knew we'd eventually find it and the whole thing will come together. You would never throw away a puzzle at this point just because of that one temporarily elusive piece -- because you're convinced you'll get it soon enough.
In studying the Bible, you start with the easiest and most basic truths. These provide the framework.
Each truth connects to other truths and in time things really start to make more sense. One part will help you understand another part.
You keep working your way through by grouping similar colors and features and shapes together. The more pieces you put together, the more of the picture you'll see. (We found that "missing" edge piece about half way through the project.)
You'll discover things that you thought were correct actually aren't correct. There will be beliefs and habits you really want to cling to, you really want to make them work. But there's no room for mistruths. They will throw off the entire thing. Each piece only has one place in the puzzle -- what's truth is truth. You'd never try to cut a puzzle piece in order to make it fit where it doesn't belong! There's always those few things that are extra hard to understand or accept, but if you patiently keep going, they will fit right in when most of the puzzle is complete.
Just like you need the box photo -- the clear pattern provided by the manufacturer of the puzzle -- you have to keep your eyes on God, keep looking to him for direction every step of the way through the process. Praying for help to understand and the strength to apply what you learn is essential. Who would even try to put a puzzle together without consulting the box photo??
As you keep working at it, bigger chunks of truth start connecting with other chunks of truth until eventually you have one big beautiful breathtaking picture of The Truth.In time, the hard work will pay off. Making the effort to put the puzzle pieces of the Bible together will be worth it, FOREVER! John 17:3
Contact me if you'd like some great free resources that help make this fascinating "puzzle" project easier! Understanding the Bible is not complicated if you have the right tools.
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