Boldt Castle…destined to be one of the finest achievements in architecture. Designed with the latest in technology advancements and even innovative forethought. It was to become not only the crowning glory of multimillionaire and hotel giant George C. Boldt, but it was also the passionate desire to build a monument of love to his wife, Louise. Everything was going great until….

How many “untils” have we all faced? How many times does it seem that things are finally working out, until? I don’t know how many people I have talked to who have told me a similar story. Things were going great and then something tragic happened. Maybe it wasn’t even tragic to others but it was enough to shake your world. It was enough to push you off your safe place and place you on unfamiliar or uncertain land.

No one feels secure when they are out of their comfort zone. The feelings of uncertainty make us anxious or even doubtful. They tend to make us act in ways that may be uncharacteristic. For some, it drives them to their knees. For others, they run to the closest numbing agent. Others just seem to zone out and function but never deal with the problem.

I found a time when even Jesus was faced with an unfamiliar event. Before He was crucified, we find the Son of God on His knees crying out to His Father. As God, He knew what He had to face. As a man, He had never walked this path. This journey was His and His alone. No one else could do what He knew He had to do. Never before in the expanse of time had God ever done what He was about to do…lay down His own life as a ransom for the world. He knew it had to be done because from the very foundations of the earth, He was destined to be slain for all of mankind. He knew this day would come and it was finally upon Him.

Before He was betrayed, He cried out to His Father, “If it be possible, take this cup away from me.” The Son of God was asking for leniency from the sentence of death. It was the only punishment worthy of the sins of mankind. It was the only way our relationship to God could be restored. Think about it…we sin and God pays the penalty. I can’t even imagine the torment that He was going through. He knew He was going to have to carry ALL of my sins. Then He said something that I have tried to live by but have often failed…”Nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done.” He surrendered the will of Himself to the plan of God.

I could stop there and it would be a tragic story greater than Shakespeare could ever write. However, there is more to the story. It gets even worse. The man who knew no sin, the spotless lamb, the hope of the world was beaten, tortured, scourged, and ridiculed. Every inch of His body was beaten to the brink of human endurance. There wasn’t one single part of His body that wasn’t taken to it’s limits. As if that wasn’t enough, He was then placed on a cross, nailed to the wood, and hung there to suffer. Then it happened…He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” And then it happened…the hope of glory died. The one who everything hinged on was murdered. All was lost. What was left to do?

Remember the story of Boldt Castle on Heart Island? George Boldt carved an island out for the love of his life. He hired all of the best artisans of the day to build a castle worthy of his love for his wife Louise. Until….Louise died in 1904. George sent a telegram ordering all of the workers to stop immediately. George lost the love of his life and saw no reason to continue. What was left was a half-built castle that was never to be finished. He abandoned the work and left it as it stood.

I think about all of the “untils” in my life and in the lives of others. Something happens and we abandon the work. We stand as half-built castles deserving of so much more. What is so sad is that when George stopped the work on the castle and left it alone, the elements began to take its toll. Then, vandals came and stole everything of value. Sound familiar friend? As our incomplete castles stand, the elements and yes even the thieves come in and destroy what was already there. Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He goes on to say, “but I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.”

I’m sure the disciples were thinking that everything was going great…until. People were being healed. People were even being raised from the dead. Why stop a good thing, right? The first couple days after the death of Jesus, we may have heard those conversations. Then something amazing happened. Word came back that He wasn’t in the tomb anymore. What could it mean? They would soon find out that the Son of God had risen from the grave! Not only was He just alive, but He made sure that He made a special visit to His friends. You see friend, Jesus didn’t want any half-built castles. He purposefully made sure that Peter knew that He still loved him. He made sure that Thomas knew that He was alive and well.

My dear friend, God doesn’t want you to live in a half-built, weather-worn, vandal scarred castle. He created you as something great. Something that He can display proudly. Boldt Castle sat for 73 years in disarray. Even though it will never be completed, it is being preserved since new owners took over in 1977. Let Jesus come in and take ownership so He can not only preserve you, but restore you to the castle you were meant to be.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10