©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com
Oh, what delight when my friend placed the cross in my hands.
That cross had been crafted personally for me as a gift.
Mounted on a sturdy wooden cross, four translucent shells etched in gold followed its shape.
I thought about the body of Christ as a bridge from heaven to earth. His outstretched arms welcome us with grace, mercy, forgiveness – and far more love than we can fathom.
But, the blood-like stains on the shells pierced my heart. My heart ached over the suffering Christ experienced, nailed to the cross, as a sacrifice for our sins so we could live in harmony with God.
1 Peter 2:24 refers to both the pain of Christ on the cross, and our healing through it.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
So, what are those maroon-brown spots inside the shells that stirred my heart to Christ’s blood and sacrifice? Turns out those “muscle scars” mark the points where the oyster’s powerful muscle adheres to the inside. One part can snap the shell shut to rapidly block out predators; another provides longer-term protection to keep what’s inside sealed off.
As believers, Christ is in us, working through us.
Sealed by our salvation, we are strengthened by God’s power to stand firm against forces who attack or tempt us to stray outside the safe spaces God provides for His children. Indeed, the “muscle” we have in God is the most powerful in the universe. He can help us block out evil and guard our lives and homes from destructive forces.
After my friend told me she wanted to make crosses out of shells, I enjoyed finding shells to help her project. I didn’t do it to try to receive one. I just enjoyed knowing I was supporting her mission to gift others the crosses.
The contributions I made didn’t craft those crosses made of shells. Nor did I gift them.
My friend did.
And, that’s another reminder about the Cross of Christ.
Nothing we do can earn God’s gift of grace and mercy. It’s His alone to give.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9
As I examine the oyster-shells on this unique cross, I consider how living oysters make water cleaner and healthier by filtering out the bad sediments, excess nutrients, and algae.
As filter-feeders, oysters serve as a conduit to cleaner, clearer and healthier water, and that lets in more sunlight.
Christ is our purifier.
Hebrews 9:13-15 tells us: Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God.
For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
This cross made of shells reminds me not only of Christ on the cross, but also His sea-related activities, including calling fishermen as disciples, stopping a raging storm while on the sea, and walking on the water. Through those historical accounts, Christ’s connectivity, authority, and sovereignty are displayed.
Lessons we learn from Biblical accounts, the Cross and throughout Creation allow us to marvel at God’s character and design, and to increase our joy and peace as we discover more and more about His everlasting love for us.
The next time you look at an oyster shell, think about those blood-like marks and rejoice that our Creator and Redeemer, holds His arms open for you – and for all! And, be grateful that He offers the purifying and protection that allow us to live life to its fullest on earth, and forever in eternity.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
- Which sea-related account of Christ most speaks to you right now and why? Calming the storm, walking on the water, calling fishermen as disciples, telling Peter to put the net back out again, communing with the disciples at breakfast on the beach, or another.
- Read the oft-quoted John 3:16 slowly word for word. Identify the promise and reward, our necessary action, and why God did it. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
- What have you seen in God’s creation lately that has specifically made you think of Him? Why?
- Look closely at the photo with this writing. What symbolism do you see, not only in the cross, but also in the surroundings?
- What does the Cross of Christ mean to you? In what ways does it stir or strengthen your heart toward Him?
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
Remember…
Life is Better When It’s Full – Joy-full, Thank-full, Purpose-full and Friend-full! ™
*Unless otherwise noted, Scripture references are from New International Version (NIV)