A Good Ending

So much in the news lately seems to fly in the face of our Christian beliefs; as I’ve pondered why this should be, and what might be done about it, I’ve been thinking a lot about three words: ‘back to basics.’  I believe it was Prime Minister John Major who brought currency to the term not all that long ago.  Among the ‘basics’ that have crossed my mind has been the basic premise upon which this series of articles was founded many years ago.  That premise was the idea that links can be observed, or without too much effort contrived, between aspects of our faith and everyday things or happenings, so that the one can be seen as a pointer to the other.  I realise that my articles have sometimes drifted away from that basic aim and, as it’s good once in a while for any of us to stand back, reflect and re-affirm what it is we’re doing, so now is as good a time as any for The Gospel Around Us to do the same.

One of the everyday ‘things’ that is basic and very important to each of us is our body, and I’d like to focus this article on ten little parts of it that are almost constantly visible and perhaps most frequently taken for granted – our fingernails.  Apart from being at one extreme a convenient surface for the application of coloured varnish, and at the other a fragile substitute for a screwdriver, what use are they?  They can be easily chipped or broken (especially if used as screwdrivers!) and are then, if not painful, at least most irritating.  If assaulted by a heavy article, e.g. a car door, then they are most definitely painful, and it takes months for the resulting unsightly black part to grow out.  Oh, and we shouldn’t forget that terrible grating sound that could be produced by scraping them on a blackboard!

Maybe these incidents are precise examples of one of the main functions of the fingernail – to protect the finger; and if you ask a comedian what they’re for, he might reply, ‘to stop your fingers fraying at the ends!’ – which, even if it seems a silly idea, is quite true.  So, what have fingernails to do with our faith?  Instead of looking at them in bewilderment, take a look at Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith ... .”  It was through Jesus, the Word, that God made us: body soul and all (John 1:3.)  He made us perfect, right down to our fingernails. 

That word ‘perfector’ is vital.  It’s not just that we were made without blemish; we were made complete ... even down to fastening the ends of our fingers – we were properly finished off.  Doesn’t that deserve, if not inspire, our praise?  No detail was overlooked in the marvel of our creation.  Then, after we’ve exercised our freewill and messed up our lives, that same Jesus “by one offering ... has perfected [us] for all time” (Heb. 10:14.)

When in thoughtful mood, we are likely to drop our eyes and gaze reflectively at our fingernails.  Next time you find yourself doing that, I pray you will recall these paragraphs, and call to mind our amazing faith, and the incredible gift of life that God has given us.