Cobalt

Fascination with this tough silver-white metal set in when I was doing some research for a class at Bible School for 7-8 year old on ‘Colors and Clothes in the Bible’. While trying to find out how many various dyes were made, I stumbled across cobalt, and the things written about this metal can teach us many things about saints.

Silver (the color of redemption, Num. 18:16 R.S.V.) reminds us that we are redeemed with the blood of the lamb, more precious than the silver that speaks of redemption. White (the righteousness of the saints—Rev. 19:8) reminds us that it is what we do with what we know that counts. Here too, we are told to wash our robes white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7:14 and in 1 Cor. 6:11 Paul speaks of those who came out from the unrighteousness of the world being Washed, Sanctified and Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. We are called to be “As the wings of a dove (white) covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold” (Ps. 68:13). Called to be righteous, with our faith tried.

Cobalt is closely related to nickel and iron but is heavier, harder and stronger and does not rust or tarnish. Nickel can be used to make a green dye (all flesh is grass, withers and dies if not filled with the word of our God which stands forever—Isa. 40:6-8) and is a more common metal. Iron rusts and eventually dissolves in water and represents base men. See Gen. 4:22 Tubalcain was the first forger of iron and his weapons may have been used by his father Lamech in murder. Cobalt is found in the midst of iron pyrites, just as we are in the world, but are not to be part of it. We are called to be separate, pure and holy, reflecting the light of the world, as the stars appear silvery white and are likened to they that turn many to righteousness. See Dan. 12:3, 10.

Cobalt is used to make alnico, an alloy which is used for powerful permanent magnets in radios, tv, radar and guided missiles. We are to be magnets, powerful with the Word of God, permanent for the word of God, if it abides in us, abides for ever. We are to sound forth the word of God attracting people to the truth. Paul spoke forth the words of truth and soberness Acts 26:25, Romans 10:15-18 speaks of the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things, their sound going forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Con­sider also the Thessalonians, followers of Paul and of the Lord who sounded out the word of the Lord in every place their faith to God was spread abroad. I Thess. 1:6-8

Cobalt is used to make stellite, another alloy used to make drilling bits and cutting tools. We are to use our tongues with the Word of God as a two-edged sword cutting off the right hand or foot that offends cutting to the heart sinners to show their need of repentance, just as the surgeons knife must cut away the diseased portion in order that the rest of the body may survive. See Acts 5:33 where they were cut to the heart at the words of Peter and repented and were baptized and went on their way rejoicing. See Rev. 1:16, 2:16 and Isa. 49:2)

Cobalt can retain its hardness up to temperatures as high as 1000° C, and our minds fly to Daniel 3 and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Their faith in God to deliver them from fiery trials is marvelous. What trials can we be called upon to endure such as this?

Another alloy—elgiloy—is used for watch springs reminding us that we need to be able to take tension and be flexible. That we need to bow the knee to Christ and God now. We can’t be rigid and unbending, stiff-necked or we will be broken at the judgment seat and scattered as chaff. A watch won’t run if the spring is broken.

Cobalt blue, (God is in heaven, and blue was the token given to Israel to remind them of God and to remind them to keep his commandments) is used in artists dyes and ceramics. Cobalt yellow (reminds us of our faith, like gold) and cobalt green reminding us of God’s mercy in restoring to life and immortality those men who sleep in the ground and come back to life as the grass does in the spring, IF they had the word of God abiding in them.

Cobalt chloride is used to make invisible ink and our minds go to the invisible God who created us (Col. 1:15-16) (1 Tim. 1:17) to whom we give honour and glory, hopefully forever. We must endure as Moses endured, seeing Him who is invisible, (Heb. 11:27) keeping the Lord’s passover feast in remembrance.

Last of all, radio active cobalt is used in treating cancer, and we think of God, our rock; and of Christ made in the image of God—also our rock. We think of the woman who touched the (blue) hem of Christ’s robe and was healed. We pray that we may touch the rock and be healed by being granted eternal life.

If I were a rock, I’d want to be cobalt! When called to account at the judgment seat for every careless word spoken (Matt. 12:36); for showing mercy as God shows mercy (Matt. 18:33); for faithfulness in little things (Luke 16: 10); for being a stumbling stone to my brother (Rom. 14:12); for giving, receiving and sharing (Phil. 4:17); for being disobedient or unbelieving (Heb. 3:17); for living in lusts of men (1 Pet. 4:5); how will the scales of justice weighed by Jesus-the Just one-measure me? When we stand before the judge, may it be that our lives were filled with love for God, His Son, our brethren and our neighbors for love covers a multitude of sins and in that day may we be made like the rock.