Rock Chips

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) The windshield was cracked. Not just a hairline fracture, but a “spider web” shatter that had the potential to make Spiderman sit up and take notice! So, I got it changed. Such a difference — from the gravel-battered glass of yesterday, to the clear drivability that I could now experience. It reminded me of how God’s Word talks about His forgiveness. Then came the road. That first stone hit right in the center of my vision! My perfect glass was no more. Know what I did? I took it right back to where I got the windshield, and they took that rock chip out of there (they can do that now). I was back on the road until smack, another rock! Where’d I go? Right back again to that glass shop, and then right back on the road! The next time the road threw a rock at me I knew the solution . . . back to the glass shop! It reminded me of our humanity, how we slip up now and again and need God’s forgiveness again — not to get saved all over, just cleaned up. It’s something like those rock chip repairs . . . I didn’t need the whole windshield replaced, just the chip fixed up! As in all things human, parallels to spiritual concepts fall a little short. Alas, the glass shop only covered three chips and that was it. The next one was 60 bucks from my pocket but, hey, it came with unlimited crack reparation (they do that now, too) and rock chip repairs. Now that sounds more like God’s forgiveness plan! My windshield will probably get in a few more arguments with road rocks, but I know where to go to get the damage fixed. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and forgiveness! — Kene Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org