Bloodstone

Jesus paid the price for my soul to be free.

     There are a few different minerals which are called bloodstone. Dragon blood jasper / dragon bloodstone is from western Australia, formed of red and green epidote inclusions in jasper. True bloodstone, on the other hand, is found as pieces of dark green chalcedony with flecks of red jasper. Mostly found in India, it is also called heliotrope, African bloodstone, and sometimes setonite. The stark contrast of the deep, foggy forest green and the bright red spots instantly draws to mind an image of blood spattered upon stone or moss.

     Today, if you'll have me, I want to tell you a story. It is the greatest story known to mankind, and its truth has endured through generations, continuing to save lives even as it is scorned and shoved aside by mainstream society. Those who deny that it is true do so because they can't stand to look their shadows in the face and admit that they are wrong. But when we admit to our crimes, all we've done wrong, that is when He can change our lives, if we let Him.

    When this world and humanity were first created, we were peaceful, pure, and without pain. It was our own mistake, the first sin, which brought pain and darkness to the world. As Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Now, in this fallen world, the only thing which can purify us again is a blood offering so pure that the life which offers it must never have sinned in the slightest degree. For thousands of years, in order to be clean and forgiven of their mistakes, Jews had to follow strict and detailed laws, killing young lambs without blemish as a stand-in for the true offering. These sacrifices were temporary, and had to by renewed each month and year, but it had been prophesied that the Savoir of the world would come to make us pure, as we were at the dawn of humanity. 

     "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 6:23

     Jesus was born into this world by a miracle - born of a virgin who was chosen by God for this because of her faith. He lived as a child, grew up to be a man, and taught the great wonders of God's Word. He was the human embodiment of God Himself, a facet of God, a culmination of His glory, yet also fully human. He was a real person who felt love and joy and pain and grief, who was tempted, yet who never sinned. Blameless like no other human could ever be, He willingly became the ultimate sacrifice to ransom our souls. He loved us as His own sons and daughters even when we lived in the evil of the broken world.

    "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

     "But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Hebrews 2:9-18

    "And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

     If you can feel His Spirit calling to you today, I urge you not to push Him aside. When you let Him in, your entire worldview is radically changed, your life is made new, and you will have eternal life with Him when Jesus returns. For if you are born once and remain as a child of the world, you will die twice; but if you are born again in spirit, your body will die, but your soul will live forever.

     "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Romans 10:9-10

     "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

1 Corinthians 1:18

     "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:20