THE ROCK ETERNAL

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord,
the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:4

To my cherished friend,

I am continually amazed how God's invisible qualities are so widely seen in nature, and how often He uses aspects of His creation to reflect His attributes. Recently, I discovered several places in the Bible that refer to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Rock. I am writing now to share with you what I have learned about rocks and how they resonate His glory.

Most people can distinguish a rock from a loaf of bread, but what makes rocks unique in all of creation? The Heavenly Father formed them through His Son using three different techniques:

1) Like dough baked in an oven, the LordJesus Christ has allowed molten rock (magma) inside the earth to cool, forming igneous (IG - knee - us) rocks;
2) He also gathered together bits of igneous rock (mud, clay, or sand) and layered them into a stone called sedimentary rock--similar to slices of bread in a sandwich;
3) Lastly, He has transformed igneous and sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks using intense heat and pressure--not unlike cooking mashed pieces of bread and ground beef to make a meat loaf.

It's fascinating to discover the many different types of rocks which we often overlook in our everyday lives. Granite and basalt, the two most abundant igneous rocks, have been widely used to construct the foundations of buildings, as well as the dark-stoned Gothic cathedrals of Europe.

For years, crushed basalt has been the ballast of railroad tracks. These stones withstand centuries of wear because they are generally very hard and durable. It seems reasonable that the Lord would liken Himself to rock--He is unchanging year after year.

The texture of an igneous rock can vary depending on how rapidly it cooled. If you examine a piece of granite closely, it usually has a "salt and pepper" appearance. As with most rocks, Christ used several different minerals to create granite: chiefly feldspar, quartz, and mica. Their interlocking grains are visible to the naked eye because the Lord caused granite to cool slowly enough to form relatively large crystals. When magma cools rapidly (for example, lava exiting a volcano) it typically forms finely crystalline basalt. Sometimes lava cools so quickly that there isn't time to form any crystals, and volcanic glass or obsidian is the result. Basalt has mineral crystals, usually feldspar, pyroxene, and olivine, but, unlike granite, they can be seen only with a microscope. The mineral components of basalt are rich green to black in color, making basalt a much darker rock than pastel-colored granite.

Like white bread and pumpernickel, granite and basalt represent examples of igneous rock at two ends of a spectrum. Just as bakers are able to produce a wide range of bread products, Christ has used magma to form many different kinds of rocks that fall in between granite and basalt in their composition and texture. These igneous rocks all have scientific names and their identification can be difficult unless one is an experienced geologist (a scientist who studies rocks and minerals).

Comparable to an elaborate sandwich, sedimentary rocks were created by the Lord Jesus using grains of igneous and metamorphic rocks built up in layers. When granite weathers, feldspar disintegrates into clay, and quartz crystals into sand. Clay and sand then become the building blocks for additional sedimentary rocks. Over time the Lord compacts rock particles, gluing them together using other minerals such as calcite.
The names for some sedimentary rocks are very descriptive of their origins. Sandstone is made from cemented sand, mudstone comes from "cured" mud, and shale from clay. Sometimes the Lord sticks several larger rocks and pebbles together forming conglomerates (smooth pebbles) and breccias (pronounced BREAK - key - ahs, rough-cut small rocks).

Limestone is formed from calcium carbonate dissolved in water, or the hard body parts of small sea creatures. Chalk, a type of limestone, is created from microscopic shells. (The chalk used on blackboards is different-it is manufactured from the mineral gypsum.

Yeshua makes a unique set of creations through the evaporation of salty water which results in something like rock candy. As water dissipates from pools of brine, halite (rock salt), anhydrite, and gypsum (calcium sulfate) are formed. They are also considered sedimentary stones.

You may have noticed that the names of rocks and minerals frequently end with the suffix "ite." It comes from the Greek suffix ites which means "the essence of or belief in." The mineral calcite, for example, is thus the essence of calcium carbonate.

Rocks created from sediments have long provided people with a number of useful materials. Crushed limestone is used to make cement and adds lime nutrients to gardens. Limestone blocks have been popular in the construction of buildings in years past. Sandstone has also been a common building material. For centuries halite has been a source of salt. Powdered gypsum is added to paint and is the main ingredient of plaster of Paris.

The final type of rock created by the Heavenly Father is the metamorphic, the result of squeezing and baking which forms a material analogous to incredibly hard meatloaf. God sometimes takes previously formed igneous and sedimentary rocks in the earth's crust and changes them. When mountains were created, a great deal of pressure (enough to crush a car to the thickness of a piece of paper) and heat (up to 1,200° F.) built up, causing the structure of some rock to recrystallize. (Technically called regional metamorphism.) What resulted is a wide variety of metamorphic rocks. The Lord also used gigantic bubbles of underground magma to heat surrounding rock, with the same result. (Technically known as contact metamorphism.)

The quality and texture of our meatloaf is greatly affected by how it is prepared and the length of time in the oven. In the same way, igneous and sedimentary rocks show differing degrees of change depending on how long the Lord cooked them. Slate, a dark, very flat rock, once used to make blackboards in schools, is actually transformed shale. Further "baking" can turn slate into a another metamorphic rock called schist.

Actually, schist is created from several different types of igneous and sedimentary rocks, and it features layers of crystals, such as mica. More heat and pressure can turn schist into gneiss (pronounced "nice"). Gneiss has the same chemical makeup as granite; however, its crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica are in bands or stripes.

Marble is a metamorphic rock God created from limestone. Pure marble is white and has for centuries been carved into statues. Marble containing mineral impurities has an almost infinite number of highly-prized swirls and beautiful designs.

One final metamorphic rock I should mention is quartzite. Quartzite is transformed sandstone and is a very common rock. Many of the rounded stones found in rivers, streams, lakes, and along the seashore are weathered quartzite.

It is difficult to comprehend the structure of rocks without knowing something about minerals. Did you know, my dear and valued friend, that more than 30 different minerals are referenced in the Bible?1 As I have already mentioned, granite is made up of several minerals. All rocks, in fact, are composed of one or more minerals.

Minerals are substances made of chemicals which have very predictable properties. Some minerals are formed from one kind of element. (An element is a substance composed of only one type of atom. There are 92 naturally occurring elements in the world.) Gold, diamonds, and copper are examples. God created flawless diamonds, for instance, from carbon atoms tightly packed together. The carbon of soft "lead" pencils is the same carbon the Lord used to make durable and crystal-clear diamonds!

Most minerals have been formed from two or more elements joined together. Quartz is composed of the compound silicon dioxide (SiO2), which is a special combination of silicon and oxygen atoms. Feldspar is also made of silicon and oxygen with aluminum added. Mica contains, among other things, iron and magnesium.

There are about 2,000 different minerals that the Lord Jesus Christ has used to form rocks. It would be impossible to highlight each of these minerals in such a short letter. Let me, instead, describe some ways to distinguish one mineral from another.

Most minerals form crystals. It is the size and shape of crystals that help distinguish minerals. Although most crystals are smaller than a fist, some can be quite large. Crystals of feldspar found near Karelia, Russia, were so huge that millions of pounds of feldspar were mined from each one!2

Some minerals do not form crystals. Opal is one such example. The Lord's creation of this gemstone is quite fascinating. Opal has the same chemical composition as ordinary sand with an interesting twist. Incredibly, the Lord Jesus was able to combine water with the atoms of silicon and oxygen to create this valuable iridescent stone. In fact, opal contains as much as 20% water and can lose its beauty if allowed to dry out.

The importance of mineral crystals cannot be overstated, for they are found everywhere. They make up virtually all rock, and are found in plants and animals. We are made up of crystals, as well, for crystals of the mineral apatite are located in our bones!

Permit me to digress a moment. There is a lot of bad press surrounding crystals lately. They have been wrongly used as objects of worship or healing by some people. Crystals themselves are not evil. The Bible clearly states that everything God created is very good; this includes mineral crystals. Please appreciate them for their beauty, but stay clear of their misuse!

Color is another way to distinguish different minerals. The Lord reflects His infinite creativity and beauty in the incredible variety of minerals. Every color of the rainbow is represented among rocks. Many minerals may even have several different complexions. Pure quartz, for example, is clear, but quartz can also be white, yellow, pink, purple, or black. Thus it's difficult to identify quartz using color alone. It's fascinating how the Creator has invented these different hues. Smoky quartz is dark gray or black, for instance, because of exposure to radioactive materials in the earth's crust. Rose quartz contains titanium, making it pink, and amethyst (a type of quartz) is purple due to iron.

A time-honored method to differentiate minerals is by determining their hardness. In 1822, Frederich Mohs invented a way to rank minerals on the basis of their ability to resist being scratched. He created a scale from one to ten, with the soft mineral talc representing number one, and the hardest substance on the face of the earth, the diamond, at number ten.

With each increase in number up the scale, the corresponding mineral is proportionately that much harder, with the exception of diamond. Diamonds (#10) are about 40 times harder than corundum (e.g., rubies and sapphires) and almost four million times harder than talc!

Each of the minerals on the Mohs scale is able to scratch minerals of a lesser number and is scratched by minerals of a greater value. By testing an unknown mineral with these rocks it is possible to determine its relative hardness, and this helps with identification. If these Mohs minerals are not available, other common materials can be tried:

RELATIVE HARDNESS BASED ON THE MOHS SCALE (1-10)

There are several other properties that can be used for identification. Each mineral has a fairly specific density; that is, weight relative to water. Quartz, for instance, is approximately two-and-a-half times, pyrite (iron sulfide) is five times, and gold is 19 times heavier than water.

Some crystals, like calcite, if struck in just the right way, will form an almost perfect break retaining a flat crystal face. This property is called cleavage. Other minerals, like quartz, break into irregular pieces and are said to fracture.

Geologists who study minerals often describe them by their luster or how they reflect light. Gold, pyrite, galena, and silver have a metallic luster. Quartz is said to have a glassy or vitreous luster. Minerals that reflect light poorly are called earthy.

In addition to all the above, some minerals, like gold, are malleable--that is, they can be pounded into different shapes using a hammer; some are magnetic (such as hematite); some react with vinegar to produce bubbles (limestone does this); and some are flexible (mica is an example).

Mineral crystals are not only beautiful to see, but many are invaluable for other reasons as well. Most of the world's supply of lead comes from the mineral galena, for instance. Sphalerite is the main source of zinc, and tin comes from cassiterite. Graphite is added to some paints, is applied as a lubricant to moveable parts in certain machines, and is the chief component of "lead" pencils (pencil lead is not lead at all, it is a mixture of graphite and clay). Quartz is used to make glass, and feldspar is essential in the manufacture of porcelain.

Corundum is a very hard mineral (nine on the Mohs scale) which is relatively common. When the Lord Jesus created corundum, however, He sometimes added a small amount of chromium, and rubies were the result. When He mixed in a pinch of titanium, He changed ordinary corundum into sapphires. Emeralds were also created when the relatively common crystal, beryl, had chromium added to it.

Both corundum and industrial grade diamonds are used to grind, polish, and drill rocks and other hard materials. The tip of a dentist's drill is studded with numerous tiny diamond chips so that it can penetrate the extremely hard enamel of your teeth. (I am sure you are glad I told you that!)

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the Rock.
Matthew 7:24

As I was mulling over in my mind how rocks reflect the character of our Lord, I was drawn back to granite. I was reminded that granite is composed primarily of three types of crystalline minerals interlocked, forming an enduring stone. Then I remembered that the Bible says God is three Persons: the Heavenly Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. Granite is one rock, not three, but is made of three beautiful minerals. Remove any of the three minerals and granite ceases to be granite; all three must be present. In the same way, God is but one God, yet the Bible clearly states the reality of the Trinity, the three Persons of the Rock.

The idea of the Trinity has always been a hard concept for people to grasp. We must not use human reasoning, though. Jesus alludes to this in John, chapter 10, when He says:

I and the Father are One (vs. 30).

In other words, the One plus the One equals the One (1+1=1)! After Christ's sacrifice on the cross and return to His Father in heaven, He sent His Spirit into the world to be our Helper, our Counselor. He thus revealed that the divine formula was, actually, the One plus the One plus the One, equals the One (1+1+1=1).

Since God is Spirit and is invisible to us, it is difficult for us to conceptualize His nature. Granite can be used to dimly illustrate the Trinity. The beauty of crystalline minerals can also partially reflect His invisible qualities (Romans 1:20). Though minerals have been misused for evil by some, they still reflect the Creator's character. As one author put it, "crystals are associated with perfection... and clarity."3 Rock crystals can also represent those of us who are being perfected in Christ.

Long ago, God referred to His people as grains of sand (Genesis 22:17), which we've already discovered are crystals of quartz. Through Peter, the Spirit of God says "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:5). God the Rock wants us to be like Him. But how do we become like God?

God's Word states that physically we are born of dust and that we return to dust after death (Genesis 3:19). The problem with dust is that it has no foundation and it is easily scattered by the wind. God did not make us physical beings only, but spiritual ones as well. Though we don't live on physically in our present body, we can live forever spiritually in His presence in a new and perfect body (Philippians 3:21). In order for this to occur we must be born of the Rock, that is Christ's Spirit, because the Rock is eternal. There is only one way to live forever--we must be transformed to become like Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:49). Figuratively speaking, we must become the metamorphic rock "Jesusite," the essence of Christ.

Because of sin, our present lives are destined to turn to dust. Oh, dear friend, Christ came into the world and died on the cross to forgive us our sins and nullify sin's destructive power for all eternity. To receive God's forgiveness, however, we must truly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God's Son, that He died to take away our sins, that He rose to life by the power of His Father, and that He sits with God in Heaven right now. We must give ourselves to Jesus Christ and trust in Him for our very lives.

Trusting Christ is not complicated, but it is a serious commitment. If you make this decision I must caution you that you will face difficult times in the future. Your life will not be without trials and stress. God will help you, however, and be with you every step of the way, if you allow Him. He will never give up on you, for "...He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). In her book on minerals, Barbara Amlick observes that "those minerals that show cleavage will, under the proper stress, break smoothly along... planes of weakness which are directly related to their internal...structure."4 Similarly, the Lord God will chip away at you, using your weaknesses to bring Himself glory and make you into the image of His Son, Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).

You can make a commitment to Christ and receive eternal life right now, if you are willing; simply call on the Lord. It's your choice, my friend; God will not force you! My hope for you is that you will have the same attitude as the writer of Psalm 61:

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2

Please consider the following prayer:

Dear God, I recognize that I have lived my life independently of you and you consider this sin. Please forgive me through your Son, Jesus Christ-through His death on the cross. Jesus, please come into my heart right now and become my King and my God. I accept your gift of eternal life. Show me how to live the way you want me to live. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

If you decided to pray and make this commitment, congratulations! All of heaven is rejoicing right now. You have become Jesusite, a pure stone of Christ. Please write to me soon, cherished friend. I so want to hear from you.

In the warmth and sincerity of Christ's love,

Your friend

I love You, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in Whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.
Psalm 18:1,2

NOTES
1- Orville J. Nave, Nave's Topical Bible, (Moody Press: Chicago, 1974), p. 831.
2- Barbara H. Amlick, Getting Started in Mineral Collecting, (Collier Books: New York, 1972), p.68.
3- R. F. Symes, Eyewitness Books: Crystals & Gems, (Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 1991), p. 6.
4- Amlick, p.61.

 

Conglomerate