Blueprint
Originally scheduled for February 24
Have you ever seen a blueprint? It’s a rather
rare document these days. Originally, the process of making
blueprints was an invention of the 19th century. It
produced a dark blue piece of paper with white lines on it which
could show a great deal of detail. Once invented, it quickly became
a standard method for dealing with architectural diagrams and other
construction related documents. The process itself is messy and
time-consuming; we have largely replaced it with newer methods.
Even though most of us have never seen an
actual blueprint, we continue to use the word. Figuratively, a
blueprint is some sort of diagram or instruction which tells us how
to put something together. Sometimes these are literal diagrams —
someone might speak of the blueprints for their house, for example.
Sometimes these are completely figurative; you might speak of a
blueprint for holding a party, for example. We use the word to mean
something which tells us how to put something together.
In modern times we have replaced the blueprint
with diagrams which come off a xerographic copier or something
generated on a large bed plotter by a computer. It’s much less
messy, and you can get color in it. But the old blueprints do still
exist. For example, your author used them when working for the
telephone company. Some of the blueprints we used dated back before
the turn of the 20th century, showing the position of
underground cables. The cables were still in the ground, so the
blueprints were still valid. It doesn’t matter how old your diagram
is, as long as it’s correct.
That’s true of communion as well. It’s 2000
years old, more or less, but still quite valid. We think of the
bread and the wine — the product of the creation of Passover, 1500
years before Christ. The picture is clear, even at this great length
of time. God passes over and saves those who are true participants
in his communion. We are to remember his sacrifice in the picture
shown by the bread and the wine.
More than that, we are told that taking
communion should lead to self examination. We are to examine
ourselves, and see if there is something of which we need to repent.
It’s a simple thought. We must remember, however, that repentance
sets the relationship between man and God on the right path. Once
again, an ancient document which still tells us the truth, still has
its great use.
We are also told that we are to do this until
our Lord returns. Our blueprint tells us that we do not have the end
of all things yet. Our Lord is due to return, and all things change.
There are many theories about how this will happen, when this will
happen, and what will be the result. We need not speculate about
that; the blueprint tells us that he will return — and that should
be sufficient. Remember that your Lord is coming back; examine
yourself now and then partake.
