The Power of the Pencil
5 Things You Can Learn From Your Writing Utensil
11/10/04
I. Introduction
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the
box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send
you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
1 ... You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
2 ... You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
3 ... You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.
4 ... The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
5 ... On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Tonight’s message is The Power of the Pencil: 5 Things You Can Learn From Your Writing Utensil.
II. Allow Yourself to Be Held
Just like a pencil, in the hand of the right person, can do some amazing things, you can do amazing things if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand.
A pencil can make beautiful drawings in the hand of an artist.
A pencil can craft amazing stories in the hand of a writer.
A pencil can solve the most complex algebraic equations in the hand of a mathematician.
A pencil can sketch the most perfect blueprint in the hand of an architect.
A pencil can write the most touching note in the hands of a loved one.
But in the wrong hands, a pencil can become useless or worse, used for the wrong things.
In the hand of a two-year old, a pencil becomes a dangerous toy.
The child stares at the pencil adoringly before placing it in his mouth where it can do a lot of harm.
In the hand of an enraged fiancé, a pencil becomes a dangerous weapon.
Pictionary wasn’t her favorite game, and she wasn’t the best at it. And as the game wore on, emotions were high, the adrenaline was rushing, and my brother and his then fiancé got into a heated battle. The outcome- I was stabbed with a pencil.
In the hand of an ill-tempered teenager, a pencil becomes an instrument of perverse language on the stall of the bathroom.
But we’re like the pencil, in the sense, that we have the ability and the capacity to do some pretty awesome things as long as we’re in the right hands. In the hand of God, your possibilities are endless. Your story is as yet untold, but your life is being written by the hand of God.
John 10:28-30 NIV 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.
Allow yourself to be placed in the Father’s hand and see the amazing things you can do.
III. Get Sharpened
Just like a pencil has to be sharpened to become better, you can be sharpened by going through various problems and trials, but it will indeed make you a stronger person.
James 1:2-4 NIV 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The troubles, though not brought on by God, are used by God to make you a stronger person. Jesus promised us that in this world, trouble would come our way, but he didn’t stop there. He said that He’s overcome the world, and thus, because he’s in us, we’re world overcomers, too.
I’m sure you can look back on your life and remember some tough times. But when you think about it, you’ve come through, and it’s made you stronger. I remember some tough times myself. My dad had lost his job and slipped into a horrible state of depression. He slept all the time and didn’t even attempt to get another job. This period went on for the longest time and it was tough. My brother and I were working multiple jobs to help provide for the family, in addition to going to college and keeping our grades up to maintain our scholarships. That was a tough time, but you know, I look back on that, and I can see the hand of God sharpening me and making me better. I never once blamed God, because I knew that it wasn’t His will for me to go through that. Instead, we looked to God to provide and through it all He helped us to persevere and come out on top.
So you may be going through something that the enemy’s thrown at you, but I encourage you to allow God to sharpen you through this time and work His perfect will so that you’ll come out on top.
Romans 8:28 NIV 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
IV. Correct Mistakes
Just like a pencil has an eraser to be able to correct mistakes, you, through the grace of God, can correct mistakes and grow through them.
2 Timothy 3:16 MSG 16Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.
Paul writes to Timothy and says that Scripture can be used to correct our mistakes. And Scripture prompts us to do things about the mistakes we’ve made. One thing it tells us to do is to confess our sins.
1 John 1:9 NIV 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
How many of ya’ll have made mistakes? I have, too.
And some of our mistakes have to do with other people. We get in arguments, we say things we don’t mean, we yell “I hate you” from the very pit of our selfishness, only to feel such remorse after the thought of what we’ve done sets in. How do you correct such a mistake?
Well, Scripture helps us out there, too.
Ephesians 4:26 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.
Basically, take care of it real quick. Go and apologize for what you said. Set things straight. For every mistake you may have made, God has an answer, and a measure you can use to correct it.
V. It’s What’s on the Inside
Just like a pencil’s most important part is the lead that’s inside, it’s what’s on the inside of you that’s important. The part of you that makes you who you are is what’s on the inside.
2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG 17Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
It’s what’s on the inside.
A lot of people look at the outside to judge someone. They only care about appearance or stature. But it’s not about what’s on the outside. It’s not about the clothes you wear, or how you style your hair. It’s not about your weight or your height. It’s not about your face or your teeth. It’s not about your eyes or your nose. It’s not about how much money you have. It’s not about how popular you are. It’s about what’s on the inside.
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Your heart is the most important part. Your heart is who you are. And if you live your life like your heart’s the most important part, then your heart will show through, above and beyond your outer appearance. It’s your heart that’s going to move you forward. It’s your heart that’s going to help you succeed.
VI. Leave Your Mark
Just like a pencil’s purpose is to leave its mark, you are to leave your mark wherever you go. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.
No matter where you go, you can make a difference. You can leave behind a legacy. You can influence people and do it by just being yourself. You don’t have to fit into the in crowd. You don’t have to give in to the peer pressure. You don’t have to follow everyone else.
Colossians 3:17 - “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
You’ll make your mark by being you. You’ll make your mark by standing up for God. You’ll make your mark by declaring your faith.
Let’s pray.
