I love doing jigsaw puzzles. COVID-19 brought this childhood joy back into my life. The world stopped so we could be safe, and I passed the time by making little pieces of peculiar shapes fit together. Each piece is unique and has its own place.
When beginning, I set aside all the end pieces, sorting the pieces by color. I examine the pieces closely, memorizing any distinct quality—size, shade, dominant object pieces—to familiarize myself with each piece.
Next comes the journey of discovery as I place the pieces and connect them. As each object of the puzzle picture comes to life, I get closer to fulfillment. The picture seems almost complete until I notice a missing piece. Where is it? How has it wandered off? I lose my mind. The culprit could be my husband. He likes to hide puzzle pieces and jokingly sends me on a wild goose chase.
The kingdom of heaven is like one big puzzle. God has a place for us all because we perfectly fit into His family. He knows us intimately. Believers come in different sizes, shades, tribes, and nations, but God welcomes us all. He wants us; better yet, He pursues us.
When Jesus told the parable of the wandering sheep, He expressed that if a person owned one hundred sheep, he would not desire any one of them to wander away (Matthew 18:12). He would leave the ninety-nine to find the missing one. The shepherd knows every characteristic of his sheep. Similarly, our Father in heaven is not willing that anyone perish.
I once did a fifteen-hundred-piece puzzle. When I had put 1499 pieces in place, the puzzle was still not complete until the one last piece was in its rightful place. I desperately, sometimes frantically, search for the puzzle piece until it is found. No matter how long it takes. When I find it, I rejoice. I feel accomplished. I have completed my masterpiece. That’s how God thinks about us. Heaven rejoices when one soul is added to the kingdom.
You can find the one. Invite someone to a relationship with Jesus, letting them know that God is pursuing them. And if you are the one, God is searching for you and calling out your name. Answer God’s call and make heaven’s puzzle complete.
Latresa Hamilton is a devoted wife and mother of two young adult children. She has a passion to share God’s Word and lead others to Christ. Latresa currently serves as a student leader at Bible Study Fellowship. She also provides high school students with tools and resources to prepare for college. Latresa loves to travel with her family and watch her favorite sports teams. Her life is a testament to trusting in the Lord, rooted in Proverbs 3:5-6.