Thought 223
The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone
The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance
of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
People can sharpen each other; but I submit to
you is that Christ is sharpening us. . . As we read the Word, we are
transformed and as apply what we’ve learned to our lives, we are like a piece
of pottery in the Potter’s hands: be shaped and molded into the vessel that He
desires.
Another analogy would
be this: imagine yourself one day becoming a beautiful sword with precious gems
inlaid in the hilt with a shining yet strong blade. All you are right now is a
hunk of dirty old medal, and the gems are lying in a pile on a nearby table
along with the sword polish across from the furnace. In order to be turned into
that beautiful sword you have to be put through extreme fire—and heat!—sometimes
to the point of becoming a liquid metal. You have to be beaten into shape and
engraved with your Maker’s signature. The dirty, undesirable metals have to be
drawn out so that you can become a pure weapon, worthy for your Master to use.
It is the same way in our Christian walk, we don’t shine right away; our sword
polish hasn’t been worked in enough. We grow brighter each day, yet we never reach
the perfection on this earth: the metal we are made of has to pass into death
so that the last bit of fire I’m not talking about “purgatory,” I’m talking
about our sanctification [the process of becoming holy] on this earth which
culminates in glorification [perfection] when we are united with Christ.) can
cleanse us as we march over into eternity in Heaven. I’m not talking about
purgatory, I’m talking about our sanctification on this earth and our
glorification when we are united with Christ.
