A Ring

A while ago, my engagement ring had gotten badly bent, the diamond was leaning, similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This past weekend, I planned to take it to the local jeweler to have it fixed. Before I left, I did what I thought was a pretty good cleaning job. I had it glistening. I took it in to the shop, told the jeweler the problem, and handed it over. He went over to his little jewelry microscope and studied it closely. He looked up and told me that though it was leaning dramatically, it was fixable. He also said he would clean it up. Clean it up? I had already done that. It was shining....on the outside. Underneath those shining diamonds and gold was a little gunk. The gunk that didn't come off with my cleaning. It was in need of some close examining and careful cleaning by a jewelry master. Well, my gunky ring got me thinking about my own life and heart. Each day, I get cleaned up, hair washed, clean clothes on, etc. But my heart may not always match my outside presentation. Like my outwardly shiny ring, I might look just fine to most people, when inside, my heart is gunky. It may just even be a small bit of gunk (that is, unconfessed sin), or it may be thick gunk. Either way, I am in need of some close examining and careful cleansing by my Master.

"Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;" Psalm 26:2

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

May He purge from my heart any sin, any dishonoring thought or motive, and may He replace it with Himself, all that is good and lovely and true and right and excellent and praiseworthy. May my heart desire Christ above all things, worshiping Him alone, and finding Life as I look to Him on the Cross, having died to save me and set me free, having risen from the dead that I might also have new life. May my heart shine as brilliantly as that jeweler-cleaned ring; may my heart glorify the Lord.