Soul Scientist

Job 23:10 YLT For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me — as gold I go forth.

While polishing some silver and brass jewelry today, I was surprised yet again at how lots of scrubbing with hot water and silver cleaner transformed dark and dingy into bright and lovely. The composition of the jewelry was the same with and without the layer of tarnish. Yet the usefulness and appeal of the jewelry was far different with and without the layer of tarnish.

While admiring these now look-new-again jewelry pieces, I had this thought – what layer of dark disobedience tarnishes the gold of my heart and mind today? And how is this layer impacting what God wants to do through my life to shine His light around the world?

Nothing can change the composition of who I am – I am who God says I am. Beloved daughter of God, chosen, kept and held forever by grace through faith (see Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Yet anything can change the usefulness of who I am to God – I am the one who chooses to dwell in my disobedience or abide in the abundance of His goodness (see John chapter 15).

Could this dark tarnish of doubt and disbelief in my life be from my choosing a dry cracked cistern of my own making to hold false hope(s) (see Jeremiah 2:12-13)? Could this overshadowing of light from my soul be from my choosing a less-than-pure love of my own selfishness (see 1 Corinthians chapter 13)? Questions linger while I ignore them in yet another task that I deem needs my doing right now from my own to-do list making.

I have those memories of the first love lost by the church in Revelation 2. I have those mentors who traded faith for fear and that what they could see as in Isaiah 55:1. Convictions prod while I cast them aside in pursuit of yet another item that I deem needs attention right now from my own list of life-priorities.

But the undeniable shine of the jewelry won’t let go of me – I want that kind of beauty in my life today. So, I am compelled to come to my Good God in confession and restoration yet again. And my Good God reminds me that He’s been here watching, waiting, and loving me all this time I’ve wandered around in the dark of my own doing, like He did with the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.

He will never give up on me, nor will He give up on you. He wants all of us to shine bright and go forth as gold today and again tomorrow.

Dear Father God,

Thank You that You always tell me to come to You. Thank You that You give forgiveness in trade for my unfaithfulness. Thank You that Your love in undeniable in beauty just like You are. Please help me to stay here at Your feet that I might reflect Your glory and be for the good of Your people. Please keep using everyday tasks as lessons of Your Presence and plan for good for my life and others. Thank You that Your way never brings tarnish or temptation but always opens into hope that brings life and a legacy of faith.  

In the strong Name of Jesus,

Amen.

Update:

When looking again at the silver necklace I’d polished, I saw I’d missed a place. Seeing the rest of the shiny in comparison with the missed tarnished area made me go back again on the polishing…God, please keep doing the same with me – thank You for revealing more and more missed places needing the work of repentance and restoration so that all of me might be bright and lovely in Your reflection of light and life. Thank You for reminding me that what I might think is enough really isn’t – in grace and goodness and mercy and mindfulness. Thank You that You desire nothing less than Your Image be made known in and through me as You do the good work of sanctification in and for me for the now and the not-yet.

Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2023.