Polished Rocks
I enjoy discovering new hobbies. One such hobby is rockhounding. I am overwhelmed by the sheer varieties of rocks around us. They come in all colors, sizes, and shapes.
To reveal the rocks true beauty, I put them in a rock tumbler and polish them to a bright shine. The rocks go into the tumbler dull with lots of “imperfections.” After weeks of tumbling they eventually come out shiny. Some I have put in as black rocks and when they come out, I don’t even recognize them. They are no longer black, but rather a beautiful milky quartz.
The process reminds me of what happens to a person who becomes a Christian. Before God found us on the beaches of life, we were dirty, full of imperfections, and basically lost and just tumbling around in the surf of life.
God found us, saved us by faith, and began the tumbling process in our lives. Through the years the rough edges get knocked off and we begin to look differently. God continues to tumble us with His love until we begin to shine. The more we shine, the more we begin to reflect the image of the one polishing us. Eventually the process is complete when He takes us to heaven. Oh, the process is tough to begin with but gradually we begin to take shape as old habits fall away. People may no longer recognize us, because of the transformation we have undergone.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
I am going to shop for a tumbler!