Title: Tumbling Stones And Testing Saints
Bible Book: Romans 8 : 28
Author: Donnie L. Martin
Subject: Trials; Suffering; Christian Growth; Blessing of Serving God
Objective:
Introduction
Have you ever noticed the difference between rocks found in a protected cove at the ocean and those found lying on the shore, unprotected from the violence of crashing waves? Even to a casual observer, the difference is plain to see. Rocks found inside the protected cove will be noticeably sharp and rough. In essence, these rocks have been left untouched; they have not experienced the ravages and anger of the ocean's raging waves and currents, for the waters inside the cove remain relatively tranquil.
On the other hand, rocks found on unprotected shores of the ocean are characteristically smoothed, rounded, and uniform. "What's the difference," you ask? The difference, simply stated, is friction.
These rocks have been tossed about by crashing waves upon the shoreline. They have endured countless storms, during which the abrasive sands of the sea washed over them time and time again. Relentlessly, the sands gnawed away at the rock's hard exterior, eventually grinding away every sharp or rough surface.
But even more significant is the fact that the same process that produces smoothness eventually produces shine. The same rocks, once rough and dull in appearance, now seem to smile happily back at the sun, as its light is reflected off their smooth, shiny surfaces. Who would have thought that such uniformity and beauty could result from such a violent and tumultuous process? Be aware however, that this delightful result did not happen in one stormy night. In actuality, this process took hundreds of years of storms, which the rocks were powerless to stop; hundreds of years of pounding by the relentless advance of the ocean's waves; and hundreds of years of enduring the microscopic abrasiveness of the sands of the sea. The important word here is process.
With these thoughts in mind, I wish to share some spiritual insights given me by the Lord via a hobby taken up after receiving a rock tumbler for Christmas. As mentioned above, the oceans, streams, and rivers are the original rock tumblers. Modern-day motorized tumblers simply artificially mimic the process of nature. The major difference between the two systems is that artificial tumbling is more concentrated and uniform in its action upon the rocks being processed. For eight weeks the rocks are tumbled twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, with only minimal breaks in between to check the progress of the rocks and to change grit in the tumbler for the next stage of the process. So what nature does in hundreds of years, the rock tumbling machine condenses into eight weeks.
However, the spiritual applications to the life of a child of God are what I wish to convey today. Let me share some of these with you.
I. The Selection Process
Before one begins the tumbling process, naturally rocks must be selected. These stones are usually chosen simply because the one making the selection finds something of interest in them, such as shape, color, size, or markings. All of the stones in their original state are rough and crude in texture and dull in appearance. Only the chooser knows the value and reason for his choice. Not everyone sees even the same objects alike. But this is just what the heavenly Father has done with His saints. The Scripture says the following:
"According as he (God) hath chosen us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated (predetermined) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:4- 6-KJV).
God chose us with a predetermined goal in mind: That we become living and visible reflections of His person ("holy and without blame before him in love"); examples of his grace, bringing Him praise and glory. In addition to that, God desired to both accept us, and make us acceptable (v. 6). Like the one who is choosing stones for tumbling, God chooses us just as we are. But He is not content to leave us that way. He has a plan and a goal in mind. In His omniscience, He has already beheld the beauty of the end result.
II. The Steps Of The Process
There are basically five steps involved in rock tumbling.
- Selection and washing.
- Coarse grit tumbling and washing.
- Medium grit tumbling and washing.
- Pre-polish tumbling and washing
- Polish tumbling and washing.
The initial step involves removing the obvious dirt and grit from the stones, by washing them. Anything from their old environment will contaminate and mar the end results. It has to be washed away. In the spiritual realm, we could liken this to the initial washing of regeneration, or salvation. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse man's contamination of sin. The Bible speaks of the necessity of this initial washing as follows, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6: 9-11-KJV)
After the initial cleansing is completed, the next step is to place the selected rocks in the barrel of the tumbler, along with a very coarse grit. Water is then added to the barrel to a level just under the top layer of stones. This is the same for every stage of the process, except that finer grit is used as the process progresses. The top is then cinched down, leaving the rocks in total darkness. The container of rocks is placed on the tumbling machine and turned on. As the machine turns the barrel, the stones are caused to tumble, impacting one another. This action forces the coarse grit to make contact with every stone. There is no part of their exterior that will not be affected by the grit.
As the grit interacts with the surface of the rocks, their roughness begins to fade, and the sharp areas become blunted. The rocks tumble constantly in this fashion for about two weeks. Ideally, at the end of that time, the stones will have been transformed from rough to rounded, and smooth to the touch. However, they will be dull in appearance. Their ability to reflect light is very limited.
At the end of their first two weeks in the barrel, the stones are briefly removed from the barrel and washed a second time. All of the coarse grit must be removed from the surface of the rocks, so as not to contaminate the next stage in the process.
When the stones have been thoroughly washed, they are placed in the barrel once again, along with more grit. This time however, the grit is smaller, or finer. The purpose of this stage is to further smooth the surface of the stones. The coarse grit, though having eliminated the original pits and sharp protrusions, has itself left microscopic scratches on the surface of the rocks. If these scratches were not removed, the stones would never attain their intended luster and reflective potential. Therefore the rocks must be sealed away in total darkness for another two weeks, while they are forced to tumble day and night.
At the end of the second stage of tumbling, the rocks are once again removed from the barrel and washed, taking care to remove all grit from the previous stage. At this point, one begins to notice two obvious changes that have taken place.
The rocks have decreased in volume, and will ultimately lose as much as 30% of their overall volume during the entire tumbling process.
Their colors and markings have become more pronounced. Still the rocks have little, if any, sheen. They still possess a dull appearance. The only time one gets an idea of what they will finally look like is when they are covered with water. As long as they are wet, they shine like glass. When the water dries, the dullness reappears.
Having been washed for the fourth time, the rocks are placed in the barrel once again. This time even finer grit is added. This stage is actually known as the "pre-polish" stage. The grit used in this stage doesn't have the appearance of grit at all. It resembles a powder more than anything else.
However, it still possesses abrasive qualities, which will smooth out any scratches or scars left by the previous tumbling stage. The procedure is basically the same. The rocks are again sealed in the barrel of the tumbler, and permitted to tumble for yet another two weeks.
Just as before, when the rocks have completed the pre-polish stage, they are removed from the barrel and washed thoroughly. The stones have a noticeable glass-like appearance and feel, when wet. The washed stones are now ready for the polish stage. The type of polish used depends on the hardness or softness of the stones being polished. Cerium oxide is perhaps the most popular and versatile, since it can be used with many different types of rocks, and is a glass-quality polish.
Since our barrel of rocks has lost 30% of its volume during the previous stages, we will need to protect the stones from impacting one another too violently during the polishing stage. We can do this in one of two primary ways
We can add plastic pellets to the barrel.
We can add twice as much sugar as polish, making a thick slurry substance, which will cushion the rocks as they tumble. In my experience, adding the sugar is just as effective as the plastic pellets, and actually less trouble. Once everything is ready, the barrel is sealed and placed on the tumbler, where it remains for a final two weeks.
At the end of this final two weeks of tumbling, the barrel is opened and the stones inside washed for one last time. This time however, after the polish and slurry are rinsed away, the rocks are placed in the tumbler with a mild soap powder and water, and tumbled for 8-12 hours. That being done, the rocks are thoroughly rinsed off and laid on a soft cloth to dry. Once dry, the stones will look exactly as they did when wet. The light they reflect is sharp and clear. This is what we've been waiting for. We have transformed ordinary rocks into objects of extraordinary beauty and reflectivity.
III. The Spiritualizing Of The Process
There are a number of spiritual applications that can be made from the process of rock polishing. For instance, the rocks that go through the tumbling process are subjected to constant abrasion and friction. Though the amount of abrasiveness and friction differs depending on the stage of the process, it still accomplishes one primary function-the removal of all that would detract from the stones' intended beauty and ability to reflect light.
The same is true of the difficulties God permits to enter His children's lives. You see, God uses the trials, troubles, pressures, hard times, embarrassments, and setbacks; the grit of our lives if you will, to grind away all that prevents us from reflecting the beauty and character of Christ. After all, that is the goal God has had in mind for us all along. God's Word says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..." (Rom.8: 29a-KJV). Though this is God's perspective on our trials, from our point of view, we often feel totally isolated and in the dark, just like those rocks in the tumbler barrel. But those are just feelings; and we would do well to remember that fact. Besides, God is with us just as much in the dark times as He is when everything seems clear. The Bible says of Moses, "...and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was" (Exodus 20: 21-KJV).
Another significant application needs to be made at this juncture. As mentioned previously, between each stage of the tumbling process, care is taken to wash the stones to insure that all traces of the grit from the previous stage is removed, so as not to contaminate the next stage of the process. The spiritual application of that fact is this: We must not hang on to the hurts and trials of the past. That will only contaminate our lives. God permitted those particular trials and troubles with a specific goal in mind-to shape us in some way. However, if we hold on to the hurt, bitterness and resentment will set in, and we become victims of our trials and troubles instead of victors.
One may ask, "Why can't God simply do in us what needs to be done in a few years, and be finished with it? Why does the pain have to last so long?" For one thing, if God reshaped and renovated us all at once, we couldn't take it. Whether we humans like to admit it or not, we are frail, often faithless, and easily frustrated. Believe me, God knows exactly what He is doing. God has wisely chosen to reshape us in the image of Christ gradually. He knows when the coarse grit is needed in our life. He also knows when fine grit will accomplish His purpose. God will never put more into our lives than we are able to bear by trusting Him (I Cor.10: 13).
Polishing rocks is a process. In like manner, producing Christ-likeness in the redeemed is also a process-a lifetime process. I can almost hear some bewailing their situation by saying, "But it seems I've lost so much because of the trials in my life." Without a doubt you have indeed suffered losses. And I would not dare to imply that all the losses are good. But the losses God permits are not purposeless losses. All that is not like Christ must fall away. Dependency on that which is false must give way to truth. Just as rocks lose 30% of their volume during the tumbling process, God permits losses to come to His saints. But the losses are only permitted where they are needed.
This principle reminds me of the words of John the Baptist, who said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3: 30-KJV). But while we may lose our willfulness, our faithless ways, and our selfish wants during the gritty, abrasive periods of our lives, we also gain some things. We gain surrender to His divine will, knowledge of His ways, and learn to desire what He wants. We also take on His beauty and His character. We begin to reflect the light of His glory, as God intended us to do. However, the gains are dependent upon how we choose to respond to our trials. We make the choice whether to assume the role of a victim, or the role of a victor.
Please notice another way in which rock tumbling relates to the testing of the saints. In order to produce smooth, shiny, glass-like stones, both grit and water are used. "How does that relate," you ask? It relates in the sense that not only does God use difficulty to shape our lives, but He also uses His Word. In Ephesians 5: 26, Paul likens the Word of God to water that cleanses away defilement. It is especially important during times of trial to keep oneself saturated in the truth of God's Word. It will not only provide comfort in our difficulties, but also strength and direction when all about us seems confusing, as well as cleansing for our failures. It is significant to realize that much of our unhappiness in life is the result of having believed and trusted in that, which is untrue. For that reason, we must ground our lives in God's truth.
There is another aspect of rock tumbling that can be related to the testing of the saints. Please note that though the tumbling process changes the size and appearance of the stones, it does not change the basic essence of them. The markings that made them unique to the one who selected them are still there, albeit presented in a more pleasing manner. The original color is still there, although more vibrant and beautiful. The original minerals and materials of which they are composed are still there. But whatever is there, shines with a glory never possessed before enduring the gritty process. In the same way, God seeks to use the trials, hardships, and yes, even the tragedies of life, to make us the best we can be for His glory. God does not wish to change who we essentially are. However, He does want to make who we are the best that we can possibly be. It is not what happens in our lives that develops or destroys us, but how we choose to respond to it. Be assured, God means us only good. His Word promises just that when it says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom.8: 28-KJV).
