“Look to the rock from which you were hewn
And to the quarry from which you were dug
Look to Abraham your father
And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;”
Isaiah 51:1-2
Continuing my thoughts on rock I focussed on this scripture which gives me a family line to trace back to my origins. As a believer I am grafted into the same tree as the chosen people of God, (Rom 11). The rock we were hewn from is Faith and Abraham was the first to be called to live by faith, the first of God’s chosen, called out people. I am part of that same rock laid down over generations just like natural rock is formed. There are different types of rock which are grouped into 3 main categories, Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic.
Sedimentary
This type of rock is comprised of broken bits of rock, plant life and animal remains. Sediment carried along by rivers are deposited in lakes and the sea forming layers. On land, layers build up over time and archaeologists can roughly recognise these according to the time period they belong to by their depth and contents. Large amounts of plants turn into carbon and pockets of coal, gemstones, oil and gas are formed. Limestone contains many fossils, calcium carbonate and shells.
Igneous
These rocks are born of the fire. Magma, liquid rock deep within the earth cools slowly and becomes granite, a very hard rock suitable for building and engraving. This rock can be seen in areas of exposed moorland where other rock is worn away, such as the Tors on Dartmoor. When this liquid rocks rises to the surface from volcanoes it is called lava and here it cools quickly. Some is full of air and this pumice is very light, its abrasive properties making it useful for making lightweight building blocks and for polishing. Obsidian is sometimes produced from lava and this is known as “nature’s glass”. The lava cools rapidly before crystals can form and because of this a blade can be cut from it which can be cut extremely thin for ultimate sharpness. This rock has been used for ancient weapons and, more recently, surgical scalpels.
Metamorphic
This group contains rocks which is changed under heat or pressure such as marble which is transformed limestone. Pressure also changes carbon, such as peat into coal. The most precious carbon of course is diamond where the atoms interlock and become very strong, but graphite is also carbon composed of sheets which easily slide past each other and are soft.
In the same way the church is composed of layers of truth laid down over the centuries, containing some error and some gems. New denominations have been formed and some groups have become like fossils, traditions of men with no life but merely dead works. These elements are pressed together, forming a composite with a variety of strengths and weaknesses.
During times of revival new rock is formed from the fire, some bursting into public view while other rock is formed where it is hidden. The church is always changed by revival as new Christians are added and existing believers are challenged and strengthened just as natural rock is transformed by fire.
As we think about rock in the natural we can imagine local churches or individuals as types of rock. We may be generous in our thinking or harsh, but the analogies are mind boggling. We can imagine ourselves as strong building blocks or cutting edge Christians, and maybe people we don’t like as fossils or abrasive. Whatever our opinion may be there is no doubt that others will disagree. The only opinion that really matters is God’s. We must yield to the fire and allow Him to transform us and use us as He chooses.
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4-5
