Think of the self that God has given as an acorn. It is a marvelous little thing, a perfect shape, perfectly designed for its purpose, perfectly functional. Think of the grand glory of an oak tree. God’s intention when He made the acorn was the oak tree. His intention for us is ‘… the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.’ Many deaths must go into our reaching that measure, many letting-goes. When you look at the oak tree, you don’t feel that the loss’ of the acorn is a very great loss. The more you perceive God’s purpose in your life, the less terrible the losses seem. .Elisabeth Elliot
About This Quote
The quote can be interpreted in a number of ways. It can be read as a metaphor for the role of the self in the universe, which is to grow from small acorn to mature oak tree. Alternatively, it might be read as a contrast between the acorn and the oak tree. In this case, the acorn represents man's ego, or self, which is a tiny point in time in comparison to time itself. The oak represents God, whose purpose is for man to grow into a mature being capable of achieving His purpose for him - that is, a fullness of life in Christ.
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