I was trying to piece together two metal frames when I ran out of bolts. The decision I had to make came down to either going to the local hardware store or compromising the integrity of the structure I was creating by using smaller bolts that were readily available.
I looked at every supply bins I had but could not find the bolt of exact specifications. Then just on my way to the store, a bolt protruding from a metal frame that matched the one I was looking for caught my eye.
The bolt was badly rusted, but I figured it was still usable. I took every precaution to successfully remove the bolt including finding the right tools, brushing off the heavy rust, and spraying it with oil to loosen it from the frame.
When it came down to turning the wrench, the bolt would not turn. As hard as I tried, I was unsuccessful in removing it. I leveraged my wrench still with a metal pipe to no avail. Then, when I was finally able to turn the wrench, I found that I only managed to strip its head. To make matters worse, my knuckles scraped against the bare metal the bolt was imbedded in, filing down the skin. I remember letting loose a loud shout as I held my hand up in grief.
I looked at every supply bins I had but could not find the bolt of exact specifications. Then just on my way to the store, a bolt protruding from a metal frame that matched the one I was looking for caught my eye.
The bolt was badly rusted, but I figured it was still usable. I took every precaution to successfully remove the bolt including finding the right tools, brushing off the heavy rust, and spraying it with oil to loosen it from the frame.
When it came down to turning the wrench, the bolt would not turn. As hard as I tried, I was unsuccessful in removing it. I leveraged my wrench still with a metal pipe to no avail. Then, when I was finally able to turn the wrench, I found that I only managed to strip its head. To make matters worse, my knuckles scraped against the bare metal the bolt was imbedded in, filing down the skin. I remember letting loose a loud shout as I held my hand up in grief.
This little incident served to remind me of my own issue with repentance.
Am I so rusted that I’m stuck; so corroded that my own place in this world that it won’t let be back-out? I realize that God has a grip on my heart with such a tremendous leverage that a simple man like me should budge, so why has it been so difficult?
Couple that with the fact that if I continued on my path, I have to live with the fear of God denouncing me in much the same way as he threatened to denounce Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum if they didn’t budge.
All the leverage in the world will never be able to turn the hearts of people with corroded hearts.
But if David can do it, I know there’s hope for me.
David had a man killed so he could commit adultery with the man’s wife. He then took every step to hide his crimes. But because his heart was tender, it was so easy for him to turn. He is truly a man after God’s own heart, no matter the depth of his sin.
God will still try to use as much leverage to loosen our rusted souls from the rut we are in, but if we don’t repent, I know God will walk away.
But if we do, life will be so easy, the sin goes away.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Am I so rusted that I’m stuck; so corroded that my own place in this world that it won’t let be back-out? I realize that God has a grip on my heart with such a tremendous leverage that a simple man like me should budge, so why has it been so difficult?
Couple that with the fact that if I continued on my path, I have to live with the fear of God denouncing me in much the same way as he threatened to denounce Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum if they didn’t budge.
All the leverage in the world will never be able to turn the hearts of people with corroded hearts.
But if David can do it, I know there’s hope for me.
David had a man killed so he could commit adultery with the man’s wife. He then took every step to hide his crimes. But because his heart was tender, it was so easy for him to turn. He is truly a man after God’s own heart, no matter the depth of his sin.
God will still try to use as much leverage to loosen our rusted souls from the rut we are in, but if we don’t repent, I know God will walk away.
But if we do, life will be so easy, the sin goes away.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
1 comment:
Such a good parable Noel Lewis!
One thing though, even if a child of God IS rusty, the Lord will never denounce him.
In God's eyes we are perfect because He sees us in Jesus.
That sin that David committed and repented of and that the Lord forgave him of, gave to us that great Psalm 51.
We can relate with that Psalm so many times in our life when we haved sinned against God.
It is such a comfort that God not only forgives us of the past, present, and future sins that we commit but He will remember them no more!
Nice to see you back Noel and writing such good posts!....Terry
PS.. I do hope Noel, that when you scraped your knuckles with that rusty bolt that you had a tetanus shot later.
You can never be too careful about these things!
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