Penny’s beads

Penny carries five beads which have a special meaning, and she gladly tells the meaning with whoever she meets.

Gold, the color of heaven: God the Creator made mankind with a special capacity to enjoy a relationship with Him— starting here on earth and forever and ever in heaven. Jesus promises his followers in John 14:2-3: “There are many dwelling places in My Father’s house, and I’m going ahead to prepare a place for you there. If that weren’t true, I would never promise something like that to you. When I have gone to my Father’s house and the place for you is ready, I will come back again and take you to that place— so that where I am, you will be there too.”

Black, the color of sin which separates mankind from God: Each one of us follows in the footsteps of Adam and Eve— desiring to lead a self-centered life and not wanting to obey God. This is sin. But something even worse has happened: We cannot just come back into a right relationship with God. Trying to stop doing wrong or trying to follow religious rules will not succeed in repairing our relationship with the perfect and holy God. As Romans 3:23 says, “Everyone has sinned and is not worthy to enjoy God’s glory.”

Red, picturing forgiveness through the blood of Christ: Christ Jesus died a horrible death by crucifixion in order to take our place in punishment for the sins we commit. In so doing, Jesus Himself has become the one and only Intermediary who can bring us to God. As Romans 5:6-8 says, “In the past, mankind couldn’t do anything at all to become right in God’s sight. But ironically when we were in that condition, Christ died by crucifixion for us who were always opposing God. 7 It’s very difficult for someone to sacrifice himself to save another person— even if it is a good person. But a person might sacrifice himself and die to save his close friend. 8 But Christ died for us when we were still living as sinners opposing God. In that way God has shown that He loves us very much.”

White, the color of forgiven and cleansed heart: If someone is given a wrapped gift, he will quickly receive it and unwrap it. It is similar with God’s amazing gift— His love and mercy through Christ Jesus, we must receive it. The most famous verse of the Bible says, “Certainly God’s love toward the people of this world is utterly amazing in that He surrendered His one and only Son, so that each person who believes in His Son won’t be destroyed, but instead will receive eternal life.” (John 3:16) Believing in Christ and receiving God’s gift of a right relation with Himself through Christ also means that we become Christ’s followers. Because of that, we as followers of Christ make a commitment to repent and forsake living contrary to God’s will. When we fail and sin, we quickly confess our sins. (1 John 1)

Green, the color of spiritual growth: When we surrender ourselves to follow Jesus, miraculous changes happen in us! God’s Spirit comes into us and we experience what the Bible calls being “born again.” (John 3; 1 Ptr. 1:3-9) Our hearts are transformed because we become spiritually one with Christ, and our hearts are moved to grow in oneness with Christ, as expressed in Colossians 2:6-7: “So now you have received Christ Jesus as your Lord. Therefore endeavor to continue to live as one with Him. 7 Consider that you have become one with Jesus— just like a branch is one with its tree. Build your life with the Lord as the foundation. And continue believing Him unshakenly.” To grow in oneness with Christ, we should make it our habit to regularly read and meditate on the Bible, pray, and participate in fellowship with our fellow believers in our church.