Fashioned at the Quarry

1 Kings 6:1-7  

 "7 And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built" 

 While studying this passage recently verse 7 spoke to my heart. While the temple was being built, the stone was cut and finished away from the temple- at the quarry. Then the stone was brought to the temple area and was put in place. There was to be no noise or commotion around the temple area while it was being built. No instrument was to be heard.

I thought about our spiritual lives. Most of what God does is in secret, hidden away from the ears and eyes of man. His mysteries and works are often hidden and done in secret- so that no human can take the credit- so that man will not glory in the works of his own hands. And then, in God's timing, He reveals those whom He has cut, fashioned and equipped for His purposes for the Church.

Those who are true seeker servants of the Lord many times are hidden away in secret while God is fashioning them. Like the vessel on the  potters wheel-- it isn't ready for display until the potter is satisfied  with it. Many times good meaning Christians have left the potters wheel or the stone-cutter's chisel too soon. They were impatient and wanted to get "out there" now. But to be truly effective in advancing the Kingdom of God we must wait- most often hidden away in secret without the world even knowing who we are. But don't be discouraged or impatient- God knows who you are- and is waiting for just the "right time" to display the finished product- not a re-invention of you- but a transformed version that looks and acts a lot like Jesus Christ.

If you feel that you on sitting on the side-lines while others are out there on the field, getting all those accolades- have patience. Your turn is coming. And when it does- the only thing that will matter to you is that God gets those accolades- those praises belong to Him- the One Who has steadfastly kept you at the quarry- the One Who has fashioned and chiseled You to His will-- the One Who will place you just where He wants to- and He will get all the praise. And the only thing that You will care about is that you left God take His time to finish the work in you and that He gets all the praise. So stay close to the Stone Cutter's chisel.

The following verse speaks of us being fashioned in the secret of the womb- but also speaks to me of our spiritual lives being fashioned in secret in the womb of God.

 Psalm 139:14-17

"14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!"