Red Jasper

If I come to the Lord, He will come to me.

     Jasper comes in many hues, including brown, pink, yellow, and even green. It is an opaque stone, an aggregate formed of chalcedony and/or microgranular quartz, which tends to be more grainy in appearance instead of having milky, fibrous layers like agate. The brick-red color comes from inclusions of iron.

     In Revelation 4:3, John describes his vision of the Lord as being "like jasper and carnelian." These two gems are both microcrystalline quartz, giving them a very smooth polish. I imagine that he meant red jasper, firey and solid red in color; combined with the glowing orange hues or carnelian, these two create a striking effect of flaming hues.

     Red is the color of blood, the liquid life force which runs through our veins, strengthening us. Red is the fire that burns in our souls, the passion that fuels our actions and creations.

     "For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Hebrews 12:18-29

     Following the Lord, we are made into His chosen people, unshakable due to our faith in an unshakable God. He cannot be struck down, and when we live in His light, by His guidance and for His glory, we will not be destroyed. Even if we are beaten and bleeding, even if we are killed for our faith, we will be invincible spiritually and our souls will never die.

     "Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished."

1 Chronicles 28:20

     "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:8-9

     If we come to the Lord and commune with Him, praying and learning from scripture, eagerly listening to Him as He speaks, then He will meet you halfway. He will guard and treasure you as long as you trust in Him. We give Yahweh our lives, but it is not a one-way relationship; He strengthens, comforts, guides, protects, and loves each one of us, in a deep and loving relationship.

     "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."

2 Chronicles 16:9

     Come to the Lord today, and allow Him to light a fire in your listless soul, for He is not a God of darkness and fear, but rather, One of powerful light that cleanses and burns away the darkness.