I used to love a good object lesson, and (I suppose I still do) as a physical object can often reveal, show, or teach a greater truth that is memorable. Recently we purchased a new home, and I have been doing “hard things” to tailor the property to our liking. I’ve pulled weeds, mowed the lawn, stained the fence, etc.
This past week, another project began after I ordered 16 tons of river rock to make a long drainage way (swale) on the property. Obviously, it is the middle of the summer and a heat advisory has been issued on a few days that added to the difficulty of this project. The rocks themselves vary in size and weight and transporting them in buckets, a wheelbarrow, etc. from point A to point B up a hill is very hard work!
As I mature and grow as a Christian, I have asked God to show me various lessons as I navigate tough times in life. (Certainly, it is easy to look inwardly and get discouraged when life doesn’t go according to our plans). That being said, I began to think about the huge pile of rocks, their weight, and the pain that my body was enduring as I worked on my project. My mind went to the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus, an innocent man, made on my behalf. The object lesson was this: What if this large pile of heavy rocks represented MY sin (every wrong action, bad thought, harsh word, unkindness to others) that I have done or will do in my life? Wow! It would amount to a huge, heavy burden.
The Bible states in I Peter 2:24 referring to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Jesus took my “pile of rocks” and carried them up the hill feeling their weight and the pain that this burden would cause him. This sacrifice for me has caused me to remember and say THANK YOU.
