Can You Relate to a Piece of Glass?

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 

In my office, I have a little mason jar full of treasures I’ve found at the beach. I’ve been adding to it for about a year now, but since I’ve moved to Missouri, it’s been left untouched. Even so, I love looking at it because it reminds me of home. The other day, I was talking to one of my coworkers and casually mentioned that one of my favorite things to do in the summer is search for sea glass.

 

She scrunched up her face and, with a puzzled expression asked, “What’s sea glass?”

 

I told her that she needed to come to my office right away. I poured out my jar of treasures and pointed to each item, sharing all about the sand dollars, seashells, and even the lobster claw that I found along the seashore. Then, I held up the white, brown, and blue sea glass. “Sea glass is regular glass that has been littered in the oceans,” I explained. “They usually begin as bottles that get thrown overboard.” I held up a white piece of sea glass that had clearly once been the bottom of a bottle. “The glass bottle breaks up and it gets tumbled through the waves and sand as the ocean waves move about. Eventually, the bottle is literally sanded down – the sharp edges are smoothed, and the glass turns from transparent to translucent or opaque.” She smiled and told me she thought it was neat before turning around and going about the rest of her day. The explanation I gave stuck with me, though. I looked at the tiny piece of sea glass in my hand and thought it was a beautiful analogy of the work Christ does in His follower’s lives. Isn’t it amazing how even a simple piece of glass that has been carelessly littered into the ocean once it was deemed no longer useful, still brings praise and glory to our Father?

 

We, as humans, are just like the glass that has been tossed into the oceans. We are broken. Our edges are jagged, and we can easily ‘cut’ others because of our sinful natures. Our words and actions can cause pain and destruction. However, once we put our trust in Jesus and start to live our lives for Him, the sanctification process begins. Sanctification is not always an easy process; we literally turn from everything we know to live a new life – and that can be hard! We can go through seasons where we feel like we are just being tossed about in the oceans, tumbling and taking hard hits… but as painful as that might be, the pain is worth it. What comes from that process is beautiful. Just as the glass has become a new creation, so have we. We are made new.

 

I hope the next time you see a piece of sea glass when you walk along the coast, you think about the mighty work God has done in your heart… you can even pick it up, make a piece of jewelry out of it, and use it as a witnessing tool! Summer is coming, ladies! Head out to the sand and the salty sea air, and get to searching.

 

Isaiah 43:18-19 – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

 

Written by Erin Culleny: Erin Culleny served for four years as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

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Think About This: “God’s power is able to change stony, stubborn heart to kind, responsive heart.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 15-19 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: ⁴ Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. ⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. –Psalm 25:4-5

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.