Is Your Faith Breakable or Unshakeable?
By Patrick Whalen
How many grains of sand are melted to make a pane
of glass? Certainly it depends on how big and thick the glass is
to be. What the glass is to be used for is normally what
determines the thickness and color. It comes at no surprise that
a beautiful crystal glass that resonates at the touch of your
hand is much thinner than the windows on an armored car. Both
are made of glass but put them next to each other and throw a
rock at them. The crystal will shatter instantly but the rock
will bounce off the window taken from the armored car. What
would happen if someone threw something at you?
Would you be like the crystal, beautiful to the eye and elegant
to the touch yet fragile enough that any little attack could
shatter you into pieces? Or would you be strong enough that you
could withstand the attacks of others?
Bullet-proof glass is not one single sheet of melted sand, but
composed of layers of altering thickness combined with layers of
transparent plastic. The number of layers and their thickness
determines how successful that window will be at deflecting an
attack. The makers of armored cars know that trying to shield
their vehicles with crystal is beyond imagination so why do many
Christians believe it will work for them?
Much like the artisan that gathers the sand and processes it
into wonderful, useful items, God wants to mold and shape you
into a person of such faith that the attacks aimed at you will
bounce off leaving no marks. He wants to protect you from those
that would do you harm.
The glassmaker takes years to learn his trade. He needs to learn
which sand to use for different items and how to properly melt,
turn and color that specific sand to accomplish the desired
result. God already knows what kind of "sand" He is working with
and He knows exactly what it will take to mold you into a strong
and useful believer. Unlike the sand however, the believer has
an obligation to do their part in the building process. Sand
cannot refuse to cooperate with the kiln or the rod, but God is
not working with sand. He is working with people that have free
will. While there are those that readily accept the
responsibility, some choose to totally disregard instruction.
There are also those that want to learn but do not know where to
get their instructions.
The great thing about God is that He did not leave people to
resort to such guesswork. Acts 20:32 says, "And now I entrust
you to God and the word of his grace--his message that is able
to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he
has set apart for himself." He has given us His written word to
read and study so that we can know how to let Him craft us not
only into a beautiful vessel but also into a vessel that is safe
from attack.
Do not disregard God's word and stop at the point that your
faith is beautiful but breakable. Place God's word in your heart
and soul so that your faith is not only unbreakable, but it is
also unshakeable.
2003 - Patrick G. Whalen
Patrick Whalen is Christian historian, writer, Civil War
re-enactor, and outdoor enthusiast.
http://www.patrickgwhalen.com
