Photo Credits: Greg Olsen
.
I am seeing the Lord walking in a place that is clearly a ruined, abandoned place where trash and waste is discarded.
It is a hot day, this place is very dusty, hot, lonely, ruined and dirty.
He is walking around the way Ezekiel was walking in the midst of the valley of dry bones.
His eyes are on the ground as those of one looking for something.
I ask Him, “Lord, what are you looking for here?”
He answers, “There are My precious stones buried and dumped here. Abandoned. Trampled on. Left alone. Rejected. Outcast. People have given up on them. Despised. Bruised and left for dead. Misunderstood and castaway.”
I look around. I can’t see any precious stone. Honestly. The Lord sees the bewilderment in my eyes and says, “I know you can’t see them underneath this rubble and mess. I know you can’t see them beyond the dirt, dust and ashes in which they lie today.
But I made them. And no matter how deep they’ve gone in the mess and how covered in dung, ash, dust, mud, and dirt they are, I can still see them. I know exactly where they are. I know they feel invisible. Like they are totally forgotten.
Living yet dead.
Some made mistakes for which people were not willing to forgive them so they were castaway. And they have never recovered. So they lie here day after day, beneath the ruins, chaos and mess of destroyed visions, shame, regret, guilt, mockery, condemnation, hated by men and hating themselves.
But do you know what I see when I look at this dumpsite? I see precious stones. I see Agate, Amethyst, Beryl, Carbuncle (Red Garnet), Carnelian, Chalcedony, Chrysolite, Chrysoprase, Coral, Diamonds, Emeralds, Jacinth, Jasper, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx and Sardonyx stones, Pearls, Peridot, Rock Crystal, Rubies, Sapphires, Topaz and Turquoise
You see, their value is based on My Blood I shed for them and the good work I began in them. I am the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 and goes after the 1.
I AM the Good Samaritan who stops on the Sabbath and binds up your wounds when even ‘spiritual’ people stick up their noses fold their arms and walk over on the other side to avoid touching you for ‘religious reasons.’
I AM the Re-builder of ruined places and the Re-planter of wasted gardens. Even those who have given up on themselves and are only going through the motions, I AM He, merciful and gracious.
And I have come, I who holds the key of elevation and lifting in My Hand and whose purposes cannot be thwarted. I have come to pick up My pearls and precious stones from the dumpsite.
And I will pick up the poor and the needy and place them in high places and reserved seats in great places that are beyond their imagination as a display of My Splendor! I will refine and cleanse them.
I elevate them!”
Photo Credits: Greg Olsen