Devotionals

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KNOW PAIN
KNOW GAIN!

By Chuck Johnson


Metamorphosis - a change in makeup or composition. A caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis, which creates a beautiful butterfly from a not-so-beautiful caterpillar. In the same sense, "soft rocks" become "hard rocks" through a similar process. These hard rocks are known as metamorphic. The process necessary to produce this change requires two different forces. The first is incredible heat; the second is intense pressure.

Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). What kind of rock do you think He was referring to? To get the answer we must first look at the other types of rocks. The first type is called sedimentary. These rocks are formed when layer upon layer of sediment are built up one on top of the other. Sedimentary rocks are the weakest of all rocks. Some of their names are shale and sand stone. "...which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:26-27).

The next type of rock is called igneous. Igneous rocks are stronger than sedimentary, yet they are weaker than metamorphic. The reason for this is that igneous rocks have impurities mixed into their composition. These impurities keep the stronger elements from fusing together.

Both the sedimentary and igneous rocks can be made into metamorphic rocks, however as stated earlier this requires, extreme heat and pressure. The heat melts away all of the impurities in the igneous rocks, and the pressure forms the layers of the sedimentary rocks into one hardened layer. The wise man on the other hand "...built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-25).

As Christians we come to the Lord with many layers of junk that we have collected through the years: hurts, distrusts, false teachings. All of these can be changed through the pressures we endure during our metamorphosis. In addition, we have a lot of impurities (sin nature) that need to be purged, and the only way to purge impurities is through intense heat. When Gold is assayed, they heat it to extreme temperatures. The result is, that the impurities are separated from the precious metal and then skimmed away, thus leaving the beautiful shiny precious metal to gleam in the sunlight. We as Christians need to allow God to remove the impurities from our lives, so that we also may glisten in the light of the SON! "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you" (1Peter 4:12).

Think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were thrown into a fiery furnace that had been heated to seven times its normal temperature, because they would not bow to the graven image made for King Nebuchadnezzar. They came out of the furnace without even a hint of the smell of smoke and with a testimony. Notice also that the onlookers saw a fourth "man" that looked unto them as the Son of God (Daniel 3:19-28). Jesus said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus will and does go through all of our fiery troubles with us.

When Christians face pressures and fires, we have two choices: run from them, and therefore remain in our old weakened and impure state, or, having done all, stand until we are cleansed and are made ready for the next level of faith.

Your life is a testimony written indelibly on the hearts and minds of those around you. Will you shine forth like precious gold, or will your testimony put forth the same old sludge as the rest of the world?

All eyes are upon you!

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