Refinement and Righteousness

 

     We have been visiting some beautiful parks across the western United States.  One of my favorites was our recent visit to Arches National Park.  What breathtaking vistas and giant rock walls with wind swept curves and grooves, windows and arches.  My husband and I made several of the more popular hikes, some of which were considered difficult, to see a variety of arches and windows in rock.  In viewing these amazing natural sculptures, carved by wind and water, I couldn’t help comparing them to the purification, i.e., refinement we receive when we believe.  

 

 

 

 

     What we saw in the park were giant walls of rock.  You could see sections with windows forming where rock was being sanded away and chiseled by running water and ice.  Towers seemed to emerge from under ground balancing rocks on their shapely tops.  But the arches!  They reminded me of us.  From dust we came and dust we will return.  Several arches appeared as though they had once been walls, unrefined, no light.  Over time those first chinks in their walls (think of hearts of stone) begin to emerge, sometimes large chunks falling away to reveal a beautiful arch emerging.  God does this in His refinement of our heart, our minds and our souls.  He presses out the darkness or you could say, His word is like a rock hammer chiseling away our sins and darkness!  Perhaps those arches were windows, then arches, revealing such wondrous light, narrowing along their edges until one day they crumble and return to dust.  As for me, I know where the light goes!

 

 

 

 

     Gods pure light.  Gods righteousness in me.  That is the refinement plan.  It is a lifelong process and well worth the journey.  Not easy in this world.  Jesus said we would have trouble.  Jesus also reminds us that He overcame the World!  I want Him with me in my trouble.  Amen.