Blog
Bronzed
Friday, October 18, 2024 by Rick Stockwell
Bronzed
READ 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
-- Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
Bronzing a statue is a long and complicated process. Once the original clay sculpture is completed, it’s coated with layers of rubber, then formed into a mold supported by plaster. Molten wax is then applied in layers onto the mold. Once cooled, the wax replica of the statue is removed and layers of a ceramic coating are applied over it. The ceramic mold is then placed in a kiln and heated, making the mold strong. After cooling, the ceramic mold is placed in a sand pit and molten bronze—a combination of copper and tin—is poured into it. After cooling, the ceramic coating is broken off, and any imperfections in the resulting bronze statue are removed.
As the scripture for today indicates, we’re all clay in God’s hands, shaped by his word, the Holy Spirit, and life’s circumstances to become the person he wants us to be. Once his work in our life in this world is done, the current version of our body dies and is returned to the earth. Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story. One day, a trumpet will blast and the dead in Christ will be caught up into the air, along with his followers living on earth at that time, and we’ll all be changed. In that instant, we’ll be clothed with permanent bodies, a new and improved replica of our old ones. All our imperfections will be removed and we’ll become just what the potter intended.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We will all be changed.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, please help us to cooperate with your work in our lives today, so we can become everything you intend us to be in the future.
Prayer Focus: ARTISTS
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell is employed as an IT Program Manager. He teaches Sunday school for kindergartners, is an elder at his church, and is the author of two Christian novels: THE WALL and THE BATTLE. He's been married for thirty-four years, and has two children and five grandchildren.
Book link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
Previous Posts
Bronzed
Rick Stockwell
10/18/2024
Anti-malware Software Needed
Rick Stockwell
10/11/2024
A Real Miracle
Rick Stockwell
10/4/2024
Forgotten God
Rick Stockwell
9/27/2024
Version 2.0
Rick Stockwell
9/20/2024
Chasing Shadows
Rick Stockwell
9/13/2024
Red Scribbles
Rick Stockwell
9/6/2024
The One I Esteem
Rick Stockwell
8/30/2024
Swimming Lessons
Rick Stockwell
8/23/2024
Hard Heart
Rick Stockwell
8/16/2024
Racial Healing
Rick Stockwell
8/9/2024
Are you Listening?
Rick Stockwell
8/2/2024
The Narrow Path
Rick Stockwell
7/26/2024
Go Save Someone
Rick Stockwell
7/19/2024
He Knows What You Need
Rick Stockwell
7/12/2024
Bleach
Rick Stockwell
7/5/2024
Firm Foundation
Rick Stockwell
6/30/2024
Impressions
Rick Stockwell
6/21/2024
Running Uphill
Rick Stockwell
6/14/2024
Are We Listening?
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Go Save Someone
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
He Knows What You Need
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Firm Foundation
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Bleach
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Impressions
Rick Stockwell
2/15/2018
Running Uphill
Rick Stockwell
11/29/2017
Racial Healing
Rick Stockwell
2/9/2017
Start Each Day With Prayer
Rick Stockwell
5/10/2016