Analysis Of The Great Stone Face

Nathaniel Hawthorn wrote “The Great Stone Face” in the year 1850. The main character is Earnest and the setting is a little village situated in a small valley at the foot of a tall mountain. Upon the side of that huge mountain, nature had carved an image that, from a distance, resembled the features of a human face and folklore in the valley included a prophecy that at some future date a man would appear in the valley that would resemble the Great Stone Face. He would be the noblest and greatest person in the valley and he would lead them to prosperity. Earnest became fascinated with the prophecy as a youngster and in manhood his interest continued. He spent hours gazing at the face on the side of the mountain.

One year a great statesman

As Earnest aged, it became more and more evident to the village people that he looked identical to the great stone face. So, instead of some great one coming, the great one was made by looking upon the great stone face. The prophecy had been fulfilled long ago. Their prosperity was learning what it means to live a good life.

The Apostle Paul said, “But we all, with unveiled face behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (II Cor. 4:3).

Paul’s message to us is: As one looks into the Word of God, he can see the face of the Lord as clearly as we see our own face in a mirror and we will be transformed; we will become like him.

Just as Earnest came to look like the great stone face by gazing upon it day after day, people who concentrate upon the Lord and His Word, after a while, will began to resemble Him in the way they treat each other; by the words they speak to one another, and the actions of an obedient heart toward

There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.”(I John 5: 16)

Now, you know, that verse used to bother me when I thought John was writing about a single sin that one could commit and for which there was no forgiveness; that a person who committed that specific sin, whatever it was, could never have forgiveness; that they were doomed forever. However, John’s message suggests nothing akin to that idea. And, if it did it would contradict a large portion of his writing.

John’s letter is addressed to: “My little children.” He wrote to Christians who are subject to sin; therefore, whatever the meaning of this verse, it’s not the same thing the Lord called “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 12: 31) John is talking about Christians who sin. Jesus was talking to alien sinners.

Anyway, John wrote in the first chapter of this same book: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John