Monday, September 14, 2009

Diamonds are Forever



James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Practically everyone loves diamonds, especially the ladies. If you don’t believe it, watch her face when presenting her with one.

I remember the first diamond I purchased for my wife to be, it was a promise ring with a diamond chip. Ok, so it wasn’t a cut diamond, but it was all I could afford at the time. When I gave her the ring and asked her to marry me, her face beamed with joy. I later learned in our marriage, that her aunt asked her for a magnifying glass so she could look for the diamond. Reflecting back to that time in our life, we both laugh at the moment.

What is it about diamonds that make them such a coveted possession? Is it the value of the gem? Could it be the brilliancy of its beauty? Maybe it’s the design or the prestige of owning one? Its cost can range from just a few dollars, to millions of dollars. Many people around the world desire this priceless gem. Its beauty has been displayed by royalty, and worn by the most meager of souls as a promise given. What ever it is that attracts us to it, the diamond is a gem that demands attention.

The diamond starts its arduous journey as a piece of coal. Subject to extreme pressure and heat over a period of years, later becoming a diamond in the rough. To the untrained eye it would appear to be nothing more than a stone, but to a gemologist it’s a jewel in the making. Not all diamonds make it to the display case of the jewelers to show forth its beauty, some are used for industrial purposes.

The creation of a beautifully cut gem like a diamond requires years of training and skill. With this knowledge, a Master Diamond cutter can transform what would appear to most as an ordinary stone, into a beautiful master piece for all to admire. First he examines the stone for any flaws that may obscure its beauty. If any are found, the stone will be carefully marked to remove them during the cutting process. Next he will draw a blue print of the master piece he’s creating. Once all steps have been completed, he will begin shaping the stone to bring out the beauty for which it was designed.

In the early stages of our development as a child of God, we were nothing more than an old chunk of coal. But through the fiery trails and pressures in our life, they start shaping us into a diamond in the rough. Then the Master takes us into his hands and starts cutting away the flaws, removing the rough edges, and places us on the cutters wheel. When all is finished, He will examine us for brilliancy, color, and grade; later to be sent to a jeweler and placed into a set for all to see.

If the trials of you faith are wearing you down, and it seems like there is no hope. Just remember, you are a diamond in the rough, placed in the Master’s hands. Let him bring out the best in you, so that all may see and glorify Him.


By Louis Edwards

1 comments:

Lynnette Bonner said...

Great thoughts here. :)