“This is the property,” his agent told him, as they flew over a great swath of swampy real estate—about 43 square miles worth. “What do you think?”
The passenger, W.E., smiled with satisfaction. He hardly noticed the scrub pines, cypress groves, and marshy ponds dotting the landscape. In his mind’s eye he saw beauty and grandeur. “I like it!” he cried.
Within days, W.E. and his associates were arranging to purchase the land from the various owners. The final price tag: five million dollars (the equivalent of about 43 million today).
That was in 1963. In 2011, the property was estimated to be worth over 1.3 billion dollars, because of W. E.’s vision and his ability to accomplish what he started.
Development of the property began in 1965. It took thousands of workers and six years to complete the initial phase of W. E.’s plan.
First, the acreage had to be cleared, then lakes dredged as well as canals built in order to control the flow of water. Before the first foundation could be poured, the land had to be elevated. Millions of trees, shrubs, and plants were also installed.
Some might say what followed was pure magic, as the massive project resulted in Disney World. And ever since its opening in 1971, the visionary genius of Walter Elias Disney has dazzled the senses of visitors.
Someone else sees value in places where most of us don’t. The King of the universe recognizes worth in you and me, scrubby and nondescript as we might be. In fact, he smiles with satisfaction on his people of faith, because what he envisions is the beauty and grandeur of what we’re becoming.[1]
The Apostle Paul explained it this way:
And what does God’s good work include? Here’s a partial list:
- He guides us to know what’s right and then empowers us to do it
- He creates the desire within us to follow his way of wisdom
- He draws us toward a heavenly perspective that impacts our choices and motives
- He grows our love for one another
- He develops godly traits that minister to others and provide us satisfaction as well
- He transforms us, day by day, into the beauty and grandeur of Christ’s character[2]
“The life of a Christian is a series of miracles” wrote Charles Spurgeon—miracles that include wisdom, love, godliness, power, and more. Such transformation is much more spectacular than turning swampland into a stunning park. And God will never stop developing his miracles within us until we’re home with him.
Our challenge is to submit to his work.
God wants to dredge self-centeredness from our spirits so rivers of living water can flow freely. Then we’ll enjoy the continual, life-giving spring of contentment he provides.[3]
God wants to place us on the foundation-rock of his Word, providing peace and security—especially when the storms of life threaten to overtake us.[4]
God also wants to establish us like trees planted by water. Then we won’t fear the heat of difficulty or a drought of deprivation, because our roots grow deep into the river of God’s delights—delights like His love, his truth as found in the Bible, his strength and presence.[5]
Walt Disney and his team did accomplish incredible feats of innovation, design, and technology. But God shaping us into beautiful, joyful, purposeful people? That’s mind-boggling miraculous.
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, loving Father, for continuing to grow me in your grace until your task within me is finally finished. Thank you for never giving up, for completing what you start. May I be an enthusiastic participant in your good work!
Sources:
https://dozr.com/blog/building-disney-world
https://d23.com/we-say-its-disney/
Notes:
[1] Psalm 147:11
[2] Psalm 119:33-37; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 3:2; Philippians 1:9; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18
[3] John 7:37-39 and footnote to v. 38, The Woman’s Study Bible
[4] Matthew 7:24-27; Psalm 119:24
[5] Jeremiah 17:7-8; Psalm 36:8; Ephesians 3:16-19
Photo credits: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.flickr.com.
