Gems in the rough

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Do you know what a "lapidary" is? A lapidary is a professional who cuts and polishes gemstones. It’s a job that requires a trained eye and a steady hand.

Some years ago, the most magnificent diamond in the history of the world was discovered in an African mine. This gem was presented to the king of England to become a part of his royal crown. But first, that huge diamond had to submit to the hands of a lapidary. It was sent to a gem cutter in Amsterdam, who was given responsibility for taking the most valuable sparkler in the world and bringing out its full potential.

A diamond like no other, irreplaceable. The lapidary studied the gem, analyzing its makeup. Imagine the responsibility. Imagine the pressure. If a mistake were to be made, this unique thing of beauty would be marred forever. He marked a certain spot, took his tools, and then with one hard blow, split the superb jewel into two pieces.

Was the lapidary reckless, striking the diamond that way? Did disaster result? No--because the man knew his business, that diamond in the rough became a thing of exquisite beauty, fit for the crown of the king.

In a way, God is like a lapidary. We come into this world irregular and sinful; the beauty God had intended for us can scarcely be glimpsed because of all our rough edges. Nor are we easily changed—like a diamond, we are set in our sin, too stubborn to admit any need for change in how we live our lives. But God can see what we cannot—His professional eye can perceive exactly what it takes to reveal the potential for beauty, a beauty only His work can reveal in us. And so God chisels away at our rough edges, a chiseling that goes on all through life as He works to make us attractive to Him. Sometimes that chiseling includes some hard, stinging blows; when such come, we wonder if God has made a mistake because we hurt so much. But the Lord only does what is necessary to break through our stubborn hardness, so that we will show the sparkling beauty of His light as it reflects and refracts through the facets that He works in us. He knows exactly what we need from Him, so that we might one day sparkle in His royal crown.