Becoming Fossils

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-16

Amir rushed into the house and dropped his books. “Look at this!” he said, holding out a fossilized bone. “My teacher said I could borrow it to show Grandpa. Can I show it to him today?”

Mom smiled. “We’ll go over to the nursing home after supper.”

“Mrs. Patterson says only one out of millions of bones becomes a fossil,” Amir told his mother. “It has to be buried in just the right minerals. As the bone decays, the minerals seep into the pores, and bit by bit they replace the bone until there’s no bone left—just hard, strong rock mineral.”

“Really? Grandpa will love to hear about that,” Mom said. “I bet his neighbor, Mr. Wyatt, would like to see that fossil and hear about it too.”

“I doubt it,” said Amir. “He doesn’t like anything—or anybody. He’s too grumpy!” Amir set the fossil on the table. “I know he’s old, but Grandpa isn’t grumpy like that, and he’s even older than Mr. Wyatt.”

Mom thought for a moment. “Grandpa is a lot like that fossil,” she said.

Amir’s eyes grew wide. “He’s not that old!”

Mom laughed. “What I mean is, because Grandpa knows Jesus, God’s goodness and love has seeped into his heart over the course of his life. Just like minerals filled and replaced the materials originally found in the fossil, the Holy Spirit filled Grandpa with love, joy, and peace—all the right things. Now he’s pretty old. He’s growing weak and tired and is starting to forget things, but God’s Spirit is evident in him.”

“And it’s not in Mr. Wyatt?” Amir asked.

“It doesn’t seem to be,” said Mom. “As far as we know, Mr. Wyatt never trusted Jesus as his Savior. He never admitted his sin and let God’s goodness replace his old self.”

Amir picked up the fossil. “Maybe I should show this to Mr. Wyatt like you said.” He looked at Mom. “We should tell him how Jesus changes us like minerals change bones, and that it’s not too late for him.”

“Yes,” Mom replied. “God can still work a miracle in his life.” – Heather Tekavec

How About You?

Have you been fossilized by Jesus? Have His goodness and love seeped into your heart and replaced your old, sinful self? When you trust in Jesus, He changes you from a rotting old bone to a strong fossil. Even though our physical bodies may grow old and weak, we have eternal life with Jesus, and His Spirit works in our lives to make us more like Him. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, click the blue “Good News” button in the column to the right.)

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Corinthians 4:16 Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day. (NLV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus changes us