“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” NKJV

Years ago I was given a treasured heirloom, a .22 rifle once owned by an uncle who had passed. Wanting to be careful with it, I had wrapped it in a thick towel and put it away from light and the elements. When I went to take a look at it, I found it spot marked and pitted from rust! This condition was certainly NOT acceptable. But lucky for me, I am blessed to know a guy!

Otto isn’t just ANY guy. He is an old German machinist who I LOVE to spend time with. MOSTLY because he has GREAT stories that go along with tested and tried advice! It is safe to say that he has forgotten more about metalwork than most people know! Remembering my rusted .22,wanting him to look at it before he went back North for the summer, I gave him a call!

Otto showed up at my house yesterday and we immediately set about our prospective positions. He the teacher, me the student. You see, I didn’t just want the rust to go away, I wanted to LEARN how to keep it from happening again. The process is called ‘bluing.’ He was all words…I was all ears, except when I had questions. The process didn’t take that long and, when done, I felt DOUBLY blessed because my old heirloom had been restored AND I learned how to KEEP it that way!

The first thing Otto said was, “the last guy that touched this has an acid problem.” Since that guy was ME…I asked how he knew. “Fingerprints!” he said. My fingerprints had been left on the barrel, and the acid left behind had broken down the protective bluing finish. Rust was simply inevitable. We both laughed at my acidic touch, which isn’t always funny.

I am a work in progress! It is a lifeLONG process where God is using my personality, conditions and experiences to conform me into HIS image. He calls that process ‘sanctification.’ It is a complex process that is too detailed for me to completely understand or explain. But it works! Just like the verse today works when applied.

To get God’s peace I need to KNOW Him. The process is not complete upon our meeting, but in our STAYING together. When I put my heart, mind and soul in His hands…and my focus on HIM, I have the protection of His peace. No matter the circumstances. When my acidic tendencies leak out because of poor handling, I know it’s time to get back to Him and be reconditioned! True Peace requires KNOWING, and sticking with, the only God who can give it.

Do you know Him?