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Split Cross
Split Cross
This project is the foundation of the gospel message. We start with the 1/2 square bar and finish with a beautiful cross. The work of this piece serves as an inspiring metaphor for the work the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
The process starts with a piece of steel. There are cuts on either end of the piece, but the reason for them is not obvious. In its current state, the steel is hard, cold, and resistant to being shaped and formed. On its own, it cannot be anything other than a block of steel. It will take external heat from a source that is not of itself to begin to soften the material and start the transformative process. It must be placed in the forge to start heating up.
This is just as our hearts are. We are born with a heart of stone, as we read in Ezekiel 36:26. The Lord transforms our heart of stone into a heart of flesh, a new spirit. This is a process that begins and ends with the Lord's work, an external push on the very materials of our lives. He must soften us in a way in which our lives become malleable and workable. We are the cold, hard piece of steel; our hearts are in need of the fire that only the Holy Spirit can bring us....
After spending time in and out of the forge, the rhythm of the work becomes more natural. You realize when the steel gets too cold and does not move as easily. You are sensitive to the brittleness as it cools and do your best to keep it heated appropriately. The hammer swings become more intentional, and you begin to see the shape of the final shape (a cross).
We progress similarly in our faith. As we strive to grow in holiness, we develop needed rhythms in our faith. Daily pursuit of sanctification helps us to take on the shape that the Lord intends. The "hammer blows" in our life become easier to deal with, and we can feel when we are losing our "heat" and need to return to the word. The small movements may not seem like much now, but when we look back at the original shape/state of our heart, we can see a huge difference.
At this point, we are able to make some of our first movements on the piece. We wedge open the places that have been cut from the beginning and the shape becomes a bit abstract. With some heavy hammer blows and some work, there is significant movement. However, it must be returned to the heat often in order to keep the bulk of it hot and workable. The shape starts to make sense in places, but by the end of this step, we have still not fully realized where it will end up.
The Lord begins His good work in our hearts with the softening and movement to embrace Him. As we begin to mature and form into what He desires for us, we will face some significant things that form our lives. Be it trials, convictions, life choices, or simply lessons... The hammer blows of the Lord always come with intentionality and purpose. We may not know the shape we are being formed into, but one thing we become clear about is that we MUST return to the heat daily in order to be workable. Our pursuit of His word and daily sanctification is what makes us malleable to His movements in our lives. If we let the steel cool off and keep hitting it with the hammer, it becomes brittle and will break. It is not beyond making into something at that point (as Scotty Utz) says... "the best part of making a mistake in blacksmithing is that you get to blacksmith more". So it is with us, if we leave the word, leave our pursuit of holiness, we will be facing the trials in a state that is more easily broken. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. We have access to the forge each day. Shouldn't we take advantage of that?
Now that the steel has been formed and you can see the shape of the cross, there are delicate hits to make. The rule in blacksmithing is that heavy hits upset the core of the steel, moving the inside around. Light hits upset the outer portions, cleaning and perfecting the look. Some choose to use a ball-peen hammer to add texture, and some use "blacksmithing butter" to add a blackened tint to the metal. Each cross comes out unique and based on the smith's desires.
Just as we grow daily in sanctification, it takes a little less force to move our hearts, and the faithful "burnishing" of the Holy Spirit to continue our growth. Each of us will look a little different in the equipping of our spirit, which our lives will reflect. Ultimately, the work of our Heavenly Father (as artist, smith, creator) will produce our unique reflection of His glory in our lives.
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