Changing Glass

Did you know that in the early 1900’s purple glassware was popular and valuable? It was not manufactured in a glass factory, though. Instead, regular clear glass that naturally contained manganese was a candidate for a special treatment. The way to make it turn purple was to set it outside in the desert for a couple of years. Eventually the sun brought out the purple hue that was so sought after.

Of course, leaving your glassware out in the sun has its risks. Wind, wild creatures, and even humans can damage or break (or steal) glass as it sits outdoors. Yet early desert pioneers chose to take that risk to increase the value of their glassware.

The process makes me think of the potential lying in each of us as believers in Christ. We already have the Holy Spirit, just as some glass contained manganese. But to be transformed into the vessel God wants us to become, we need exposure to the Son. How do we get that exposure? Through God’s Word. When we invest time in God’s presence, it brings out the beauty of what God intended for us. Let’s keep ourselves in God’s Word so he can transform us.