Parable of Pebbles! (1 July 2019)
(A daily devotion from Rev. Dr. J.N. Manokaran)
They found a secret to win. A mighty warrior was marvellously defeated. Though the giant was equipped with all latest defensive and offensive war accessories, he fell flat. The fall was by a pebble that went from a sling of a shepherd boy David. ‘Now, the King ordered that pebbles around the nation should be collected and stored. That would be the best ammunition for all future wars. Heaps and heaps were collected.’ Thank God such foolish thing did not happen. It was good that Saul did not do this blunder. David also did not raise an army with pebbles as ammunition.
The Pebble was just a piece that was used by David as directed by God. Thank God that pebble that hit Goliath was not collected, stored that it could become object of worship.
When huge permanent structures are erected, builders construct scaffolding made of timber or steel pipes. It is a temporary structure to facilitate mason, brick layers and others to move up and down to work on the structure. Once, the building is complete, the scaffolding is dismantled as it had served the purpose. If any person does not remove scaffolding even after the building is complete, that could be foolish or sentimental or unwarranted decision.
So, it is with our spiritual life too. Lord sometimes provide a scaffolding to hold so that we gain a strong foothold in our walk, in faith. One of the examples apart from a pebble is the Bronze serpent that was made by Moses in the wilderness. (Numbers 21: 6-9) Sadly, it became an object of worship with the name, ‘Nehushtan’ as years passed on. During reformation in the Nation of Israel, it was broken by King Hezekiah (II Kings 18:4)
Scaffolding cannot become structure, symbols cannot become substance, shadows cannot become reality. Searching and seeking truth is responsibility of each individual.
Do I mature in faith or hold on to scaffoldings, symbols and shadow?
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