Rough Rocks

I've been convicted lately - as is appropriate - by my lack of love for others and, most specifically, my lack of all-consuming love for my Lord and Savior. But I was so encouraged this morning by Spurgeon's entry in "Mornings and Evenings" in reference to Christ building His temple -

As it was with Solomon's temple, so in this; the materials need to be made ready. There are the cedars of Lebanon, but they are not framed for the building. There are also the rough stones still in the quarry; they must be hewn from that place and squared. All this is CHRIST'S own work. Each individual believer is being prepared, polished, and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparatory work...our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashions our hearts aright.

What a marvelous truth! Even the Cedars of Lebanon need fashioning, though I feel more like the rough stone of the quarry. Isn't it amazing that God takes rough, unimpressive stones and crafts them into a building more beautiful than anything we have ever seen? It is His hand at work chiseling and refining - it is necessary, and it must happen while I'm here on earth. But I will be finished once I reach my home, and there I will be an integral pillar in the house of God. What an amazing truth! How glorious that He works it all from beginning to end!