The words we’ve just read describe God’s estimation of His people. In His own words God tells us the people of Israel were to Him as valuable rare gem stones set in gold. They were precious to Him; important and beautiful in His sight. And scripture wouldn’t be violated if we applied same words to all of the children of God. We are His jewels, peculiar people, trophies of His grace.
And that reminds us of some of the other names which the Lord has given to his children. The name that someone calls you reveals his attitude toward you. “Hey you, skinny, fatty; dummy” – these say more about him than they do of you. Do you have a special name for your loved ones? Then we have names of the saints – “beloved,””chosen,” “children,” “heirs,” “lights” and so on. In these, the Lord gives us His opinions, hopes and plans for us. This evening I’d like narrow our vision to the term “jewels” and “stones of His crown.”
I have read that in 250 A.D. Rome was in a war against Persia. It was very expensive so the emperor decided to raise taxes, and ordered local officials to collect it. Someone told the governor Rome that the pastor of the Christian church was rich. That was all he needed know, and he sent word – “Christian, I want your treasures.” That godly pastor replied, “Give me four days, and I’ll have them all collected and available.” He kept his promise, & when the governor’s men arrived, there were all members of the church in Rome.
That man of God was right, the treasures of God are not gold & silver, but the sanctified lives of His saints. Generally speaking, something is valuable because society says that is. A family picture might be more valuable to a widow than the million dollar house in which she lives. When God suggests, “Grace is an extremely valuable commodity,” that is just what it is. He who owns the universe, doesn’t care about another diamond; He cares about the soul whom He loves.
Let’s think about jewels of God for a few minutes this evening.
There is very good reason why I don’t own any expensive jewelry.
It is not because can’t afford some, or that I have not been given any jewelry. The fact is – I don’t care for that sort of thing. In order to spend any money on jewelry, I’d have to want some more jewelry. For a long time, it used to be that outside rings & tie pins, most jewelry was on women, but not so now. It is permissible for men to wear gold necklaces and bracelets, but I’m not a jewelry minded individual. Just because I have no love for such things, I won’t hold it against you.
Because you not alone – Jehovah has a love for the beauty of polished stone and refined minerals. And just look at the beauty of creation – it hasn’t been done to please your critical eye. God places splendor in a flower and a bird and even a bug – perhaps which men may never see. The Lord delights in dazzling gems and minerals still deep in bowels of earth. He loves them or He never would have created and placed them in such inaccessible places. The Lord ordered Bezaleel to place gems on the breastplate of the High Priest. The New Jerusalem will be garnished with precious stones; the gates pearl, walls jasper. Without question God loves the beauty of the mineral world, so you are not alone if you like that sort of thing.
But more than jewelry God loves His saints – they are well pleasing in His sight. “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in His hand.” Enoch was rare jewel which so pleased the Lord that He just couldn’t leave him here on earth. Job was a diamond harder than flint against the onslaught of Satan. Stephen was a ruby with his blood shed for the name of the Lord. Ruth was aquamarine – just as pure and true as could possibly be. Paul was a pure quartz crystal, as practical as he was beautiful. God delights in His jewels, glistering, shining, glorifying the Creator.
And one natural tendency of owning precious jewels is desire to protect them.
The Crown Jewels of the British Empire, are one of the largest collections of wealth in the Western world. No expense has been spared to insure absolute safety those little bobbles and trinkets. Iron rail, special windows, a variety of electronic devices, and human guards are on constant duty. Visitors to the Tower of London viewing part of that treasure, are never allowed to linger – they are forced to be constantly moving. The British Government will go no ends protect that fabulous wealth.
Similarly, God will not permit the loss of a single gem in His collection. He will not allow the least of His saints to fall to the wayside or to be stolen by the Devil. He who numbers the hairs of our head and watches the sparrow will not forget to protect His child. “He who spared not own son but delivered him up for us all how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?”
What has God done to secure our safety? “The eyes of the Lord runneth to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong on behalf them whose heart is perfect toward him.” “Let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice, let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them.” “The angel of Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them.” As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever.” Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” He said, “And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. “We are kept by the power of God unto salvation.”
The power which God used to create world out nothing, & to bring Israel through the Red Sea & Lazarus out the grave is used to keep His precious jewels. The Book of Job teaches that nothing can touch the body of the saint if not permitted by the Lord. “No temptation hath taken you but such as ye able bear” – no affliction, difficulty. Christ is our good shepherd, and yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is there to comfort and protect. What a blessing there is in knowing that we are His workmanship and jewels in His crown.
Another tendency in owning jewelry is pride and desire to display them.
If someone asks my wife about the tiny Marquise diamond on her left hand, she’d be happy to show it off. Even if someone asked about my ring, I’d show it and point out that most of the details of that ring have worn off in the 46 years that I’ve been wearing it. There is just something about jewelry which dictates wearing it or exhibiting it. Only eccentrics and criminals collect master pieces and expensive jewels to hide them from the public.
And the Lord is no different when comes to the holy, divine pride of His workmanship. According to Ephesians 3:10, His believers are constantly on display. Peter says that God’s angels study us as exhibits of the Lord’s handiwork. And remember how the Lord displayed Job before Satan – “Look at my jewel, isn’t he marvelous?” It would please the Lord to be able to say that about each of us – continually. But what would God actually say about us concerning the last twenty-four hours, or the next sixteen? Let’s not mar the beauty of the Lord’s creation within us.
What is it that makes a mere rock into a real gem?
If I went out into the parking lot and picked up some stones, would you buy them from me? I used to live in a town were some of the streets were made of stone – what makes a gem different?
One thing that has bearing on value is the rarity of the item in question. In the days of the Bible a finished diamond was a very rare possession. Today the only thing that keeps diamonds valuable is strict control of the market. But many other minerals are valuable because they are still relatively scarce. And one of the reasons that the saints of God are valuable is because they are relatively scarce. Out of the 7.1 billion people in the world, only a tiny fraction are saints of God. The rarity of the saints increases their value and enhances their responsibility.
Another determinate of value is purity. Diamonds, ideally are colorless or slightly blue, free from flaws and bearing a light shimmer. If that stone is clouded or marred by some foreign substance, even if it is large, it may have less value. God expects His saints to be pure, that their value may be increased. Spiritually there is no problem – for we have not own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. Externally is where we fallible human beings are corrupt and scarred. This is why need a continual daily cleansing of our souls. This is why we are told to “reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God.” This is why a close walk to Christ is so essential. We must endeavor to keep our lives fit for Masters use and glory.
Most jewels are noted for their brilliance and their ability to scatter or refract light. They are not the light, just as we not the light – Christ is light. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” “That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” And then there is that special property of some gems and especially of the diamond – strength. Even the word “diamond” comes from Latin “adamas” – adamant. hard, immovable. Paul says, Christian, “stand fast in Lord, contend for faith and resist the Devil”.
One more thing – remember how that most gems must be prepared.
In the preparation of the most beautiful stones – God started the process in the ages past. He somehow gathered the various elements and baked them with extreme heat and pressurized them. Then they remained deep in the earth – in some cases for thousands of years. Finally man located the ore laded with the precious stones, but often they were ugly & unrecognizable. First there had to be the separation from the useless dirt around it. Then came the polishing and cutting, depending on the kind stone and the effect desired. Eventually, if good enough, it was set in just right foundation.
Now think of the jewel of God – that child of His – saved by grace. It began way back in eternity past. He “chose us in Christ before foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love.” Then there was the call to come to Christ and the wooing of the Holy Spirit when we saw our sinfulness and God gave us repentance before Him. Then comes a long and sometimes difficult period of polishing and cutting. Some of that came before our salvation but much more of it later. And there are other graces which need developed and polished to praise Him. And eventually one day soon we shall make up the crown of Christ himself. Some day this vile body shall be changed and the last bit dross consumed. Then we shall stand in presence of our Saviour as trophies of grace and jewels for His crown. What a glorious day that will be, when Jesus we shall see.