Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. 1 Corinthians 3:12
A company named Petra Diamonds recently announced the discovery of a huge diamond, more than 507 carat, at its Cullinan mine in South Africa. Most of us have never seen a diamond that size and would find it hard to imagine the magnificence of such a gem. According to Petra, this huge diamond is of unusual clarity and brilliance, and its value is enough to pay for the mine operations for two years. Diamonds are special in the world of valuable things, not only for their value, but for their unique character. Diamonds are made up of one of the most common elements in the world – carbon – and yet are a far cry from what we usually associate with carbon. For example, a lump of coal or a pile of ashes is essentially carbon. But the diamond has gone through intense heat and pressure for an extended period. In essence, a diamond is a lump of coal that has stood the test. That is why precious stones such as diamonds are part of the great edifice built on the foundation of Christ.
As Christians, we all start out as more than chunks of coal, we are precious jewels in the sight of the Lord. We are His special treasure. But some of us get a little tarnished by getting too close to the world. We lose our luster and sparkle, and are not much difference in appearance than the world’s lumps of coal. But God would have us all realize our potential as treasure jewels for Him. He longs that we would know the closeness of worship and service for Him. He desires that we might grow more brilliant as we delve into His Word and gather with His people. He wants us to achieve a value to Himself that will surpass that of the Cullinan diamond to Petra.
Make no mistake, you are one of God’s gems. Do you display the beauty of the Saviour as you walk through this day for Him? -Jim MacIntosh