Diamonds in the Rough

When I was a child, I remember people referring to a “diamond in the rough” as a person with a loving heart, raw talent, and/or good common sense, yet lacking in proper etiquette, refined language, formal training and/or education. A classic example is Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower seller in the musical “My Fair Lady” (based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”), transformed by the careful tutelage of a phonetics professor into a regal, elegant lady.

When I was in the early years of my medical career, decades before being saved, I used to dream of being a real estate entrepreneur to supplement our income and as a way to early retirement. I used to listen to a motivational lecture by Earl Nightingale so many times that the cassette tape broke!

The true story Nightingale described was called “Acres of Diamonds,” about an African farmer who grumbled bitterly about the poor quality of the rocky, infertile soil on his farm. He had heard tales of others making a fortune in diamond mining, and hoped to do the same. So he sold his farm for a pittance, but far from striking it rich, he lived in miserable poverty, finally so desperate that he drowned himself in a river.

The new owner of his land one day spotted a flash of red and blue light coming from a rock at the bottom of the stream. This turned out to be the largest diamond ever discovered, and the farm became one of Africa’s most productive diamond mines. Had the first owner only taken the time to study the appearance of diamonds in the rough, he would have realized the fortune he already possessed. Instead, he plowed up diamonds in the rough and tossed them away, and he sold acres of diamonds he already owned to look for them elsewhere.

Nightingale’s point was not to overlook opportunities right where we are planted, even though they may be disguised as obstacles, or to mistake treasures for trash due to lack of study and preparation. He summarized it this way:

The thing about this story that has so profoundly affected millions of people is the idea that each of us is, at this very moment, standing in the middle of our own acres of diamonds. If we had only had the wisdom and patience to intelligently and effectively explore the work in which we’re now engaged, to explore ourselves, we would most likely find the riches we seek, whether they be financial or intangible or both.

I don’t know whether or not Nightingale was saved, for only God knows the heart (Psalm 44:21; Acts 15:8). But for those who are saved, the treasure we have within – the Holy Spirit – from the moment of salvation onward, is truly priceless (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19). Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), yet with Him, all things are possible!  (Matthew 19:26)

But sadly, many who claim the Name of Christ trust in their own pitiful flesh or look to other people or circumstances to improve their situation, not realizing the power of Almighty God within, if only we yield to Him (Colossians 1:27). We may store up earthly treasures that we can’t take with us, while ignoring heavenly rewards that we could enjoy throughout eternity (Matthew 6:19-21).

Now that I am a born-again Christian, I wonder how many times we complain about trials and difficulties we must endure, not realizing that God allows our suffering to polish us into the image of His Son (Philippians 3:10). Other blessings of those trials are to strengthen our faith in and dependence on Him (2 Corinthians 12:9), and to give us compassion and experience to help others going through similar trials (Galatians 6:2,10). Yet we dismiss the burdens as trash and fail to realize that He turns them into treasure by working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

When we read our Bible, do we stub our toes on the rocky verses that convict us of our sin (Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Timothy 3:16), and toss them aside in anger?  Or do we see them as precious jewels that can enlighten us with His truth and illuminate our path to being more Christ-like? (Psalm 119:11,16, 18,72,105, 127)

The Bible speaks of believers being purified in the Refiner’s fire, like fine silver when the dross is burnt away (Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2), or as soft clay being molded and reshaped in the Potter’s hand (Isaiah 29:16; 64:8; Jeremiah 18:4). Yet before we can become malleable as molten silver or wet clay, sometimes He must chip away the hard shell keeping us rigidly bound in our own ways. Once we place our faith in His death, burial and resurrection as the only Way to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 14:6), Christ frees us from all our sins by washing us in His shed blood (Matthew 26:28).

Often, though, we are still encumbered by the heavy weights that shackle us (Hebrews 12:1). These may include guilt over missed opportunities or past sins, even though God has forgotten our transgressions (Psalm 32:1; 85:2; 103:12), or bitterness and lack of forgiveness toward those who have wronged us (Matthew 6:12,14,15; 18:21,35).

Old habits from our unsaved lifestyle, such as drinking, smoking, or bad language, may prevent us from shining as brightly as we could otherwise (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 2:10). Even activities that are not sinful, or even good works such as church service, may need to be chiseled away if they keep us from God’s best for us.

Praise God that if we allow Him, He takes us just as we are, with all our imperfections that detract from His glory, and like a master Jeweler skillfully cleaves us into a polished gem!

Jesus Himself was the ultimate Diamond in the rough, born and living in the most lowly of circumstances, and scorned for His unimpressive hometown (John 1:46) and simple parents (Mark 6:3), by worldly standards. His inner circle, Peter, John and James, caught a glimpse of His heavenly brilliance in His Transfiguration, but He quickly resumed His ordinary human form and asked them not to tell anyone until He had risen from the dead (Matthew 17:1-2,8,9).

When He died for us on the cross, He was so marred and disfigured that we could not even bear to look at Him (Isaiah 53:2-5). Yet without that ugly suffering He took on Himself for us, there could be no forgiveness of sins, no redemption, no eternal life (Isaiah 53:11-12). When we behold Him in all His glory, His radiance will outshine the most beautiful rainbow and all the precious gems we have ever seen or could imagine! (Revelation 4:3)

May we allow Him to polish us like a brilliant diamond, reflecting His light as shining jewels in His crown!

© 2014 Laurie Collett

 

Seeing the Forest from the Trees

Photo by Anna Anichkova

We often hear the expression, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees!” It is true that we need to get the big picture and not get bogged down in the details. But I often think there is much to be learned from the specifics. In the case of Jesus, the Bible tells us much about Him from the names of trees that refer to Him directly or indirectly.

Jesus, the True Vine, sustains us like the vine nourishes the branches. If the branches are cut off, they wither and die. But those branches connected to the vine grow grapes, symbolizing the spiritual fruit we will bear if we remain connected to Him (John 15:1-5). The grapevine is a symbol of peace and prosperity and a national emblem of Israel.

In the Millennial Kingdom, Christ the King and Judge will rule over the nation of Israel in righteousness as the Righteous Branch (Jerremiah 23:5). Jesus, the Messiah, King of Israel is anointed with His own royal perfume, described as the oil of gladness (Psalm 45:7), made of the myrrh shrub, aloe, and the cassia tree resembling a cinnamon tree (Psalm 45:7-8; Exodus 30:23-24).

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowd broke off palm tree branches to worship Him (John 12:13). But the branches were not connected to the tree, and those who thought He would be King right away were not connected spiritually to Christ. Those branches withered, and the excitement of worshipping Him turned five days later to hatred and the demand that He be crucified (Mark 15:13-14), because they were not grounded in faith.

But the saints will eternally worship Christ with living palm branches (Revelation 7:9). To have eternal life, we need to have a heart relationship with Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9), and not just go through the motions of worshipping Him (Matthew 23:5).

Through that heart relationship we can inherit the kingdom of heaven, for we are saved by His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:6-9) in Christ, Who is the firstfruits. He was the first to rise from the dead to a glorified body that will never age, die, feel pain or sorrow. All who place their faith in His death, burial and resurrection as the only way to Heaven will also have eternal life with Him (1 Corinthians, 15:1-4; 20,23,42-57; John 3:16; 14:6).

The almond tree reminds me of Jesus as the firstfruits, because it is the first fruit tree to blossom in Israel, sometimes as early as January, with white or pale pink blossoms. The holy furniture for Old Testament worship, designed and ordained by God, was decorated lavishly with almond branches and flowers (Exodus 25:33,34; 37:19,20)

God used almond blossoms and almonds as a sign that Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, should be the first high priest. Each father of the twelve tribes had a rod or walking stick, but it was Aaron’s rod that bloomed with almond blossoms and produced fruit overnight. (Numbers 17:1-8).  God used the rod of the almond tree as a symbol to Jeremiah for how He would deal with Israel (Jeremiah 1:11).

The olive tree is of great Biblical significance, from its first appearance as an olive leaf confirming to Noah that the flood waters had receded from the earth (Genesis 8:11). Olive oil is a precious commodity representing God’s provision (Nehemiah 5:11), anointing, and Holy Spirit. It lit the lamps in the tabernacle (Exodus 27:20; Leviticus 24:2) and was part of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:24) and of the bountiful supply found in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:8)

God’s temple built by King Solomon used olive wood for the doors, cherubim, and temple posts, and carved palm trees overlaid with gold embellished the doors (1 Kings 6:23,31-33). To commemorate the Feast of Tabernacles, representing God dwelling among His people on their wilderness journey, the Israelites used olive and palm branches to build booths, or temporary dwellings (Nehemiah 8:15).

David described himself as “like a green olive tree in the house of God,” trusting in His mercy (Psalm 52:8), and the blessing of children as “like olive plants round about thy table” (Psalm 128:3). The olive tree also symbolizes the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 11:16; Hosea 14:6)

It was on the Mount of Olives that Jesus told of the signs of the End Times (Matthew 24:3), where He began His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:37), and where He went with the disciples after the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:30). Through God’s grace, Gentiles are grafted into the family tree of God, much as wild olive branches are grafted into good olive stock (Romans 11:17,24).

God’s two witnesses during the Tribulation are described as two olive trees (Revelation 11:4). Zechariah prophesied that when Christ comes again, He will split the Mount of Olives in two, with one of His feet on each side (Zechariah 14:4).

For us to get maximum benefit from the grape, almond, or olive, they must first be crushed to yield new wine, almond oil or milk, and olive oil. To make perfume, all the flowers we have studied must also be crushed. Jesus Christ was the most precious human flower ever to walk the earth, because He alone had no sin and was holy, and He gave Himself as a sweet-smelling sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2).

It pleased God the Father to bruise God the Son, on the cross, because only His suffering and death could pay the punishment owed for all our sins, past, present and future (Isaiah 53:10). Jesus faced the cross with joy because of our salvation to come (Hebrews 12:2). Only when the True Vine was crushed, shedding His blood like wine is pressed from grapes, could our sins be washed away in that blood, which alone can make peace between sinners and Holy God (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2;4:10).

Gethsemane, the garden on the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed for us the night before He was crucified, means “olive press.” How fitting that the Son of God was pressed even that night, in such agony that He sweat blood (Mark 15:13), as a foretaste of How His body would be bruised on the cross. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).  In our Christian walk, may we accept the bruising of trials and suffering as a way to become more like Him (Philippians 3:10).

© 2014 Laurie Collett

Photo by Chez Loulou