This week on Geek Devotions, Dallas does a special episode from the Philippines where he was helping to produce some promotional videos for Fire School of Ministry and Hope For All Children. In this episode, Dallas talks about how the effect that Christ has on a bad situation and how He can turn a dark situation into a hope-filled one.
On the islands of the Philippines, there is this thing called Sea Glass. Sea Glass is really nothing more than the trash that the elements have had their way with. What happens is over the years, people have thrown glass bottles over the side of their boats, and as that class is toss around by the ocean, as it’s been grounded by the sand and coral, it’s become smooth. The edges are worn away, and they become opaque. What’s interesting is that there’s an organization on the islands called Found Treasures who have taken to harvesting this class, and turning it into beautiful pieces of jewelry. The proceeds of the sales go to help support a local tribe there in the Philippines.
The idea of this is absolutely fantastic to Dallas, and it also pointed him back to a particular passage in the scriptures. Specifically, Isaiah 61 which in context is a messianic passage. It’s declaring the year of the Lord and what happens when the Messiah arrives. Verse 3 is the particular portion that struck Dallas…
to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified
The point of this passage we discover that when the Messiah (Jesus) enters the situation, things change. Mourning becomes a time of praise. Life is restored, hope is restored. God takes something dirty and makes it beautiful. That’s precisely what’s happening here in the Philippines where they are taking trash and turning it into something beautiful.
It’s not just this one organization, but across the island you see the people of God turning something ugly into something beautiful. While there in the Philippines, Dallas visited a church plant that was meeting in a construction site. All they had was an A-frame structure built out of pipes and sheet metal, but they worship Jesus without a second thought. The result… is something beautiful.
Now understand this, just because Jesus is in the situation doesn’t mean that the situation suddenly isn’t there. The people are still meeting in a construction site, the glass is still trash found on the beach. You may be going through a bad situation, life may be weighing in on top of you. But when Christ enters the situation… there is hope, there is peace, there is grace. We encourage you this week to lean into Jesus and let Him restore you. Whatever situation you’re going through right now, let Him bring you peace and hope as you walk through it with Him.