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“And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him”
(Mal. 3: 17).

In our article two weeks ago, we considered why God likened His people to precious jewels.  1.  Because of their infinite value before God.  Today, we continue with our study:

2.  Because they are “His workmanship created in Christ Jesus”

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2: 10).

When a soul is converted and made new in Christ Jesus, it brings about a life-transforming power:  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor 5: 17).  As we learn to yield to the Holy Spirit, God moulds our Christian character and makes us more like Christ.  It is His will for every believer as Romans 8: 29 tells us: “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

“We are His ‘making’ (Greek: ‘poihma’).  That is, we are created or formed by Him, not only in the general sense in which all things are made by Him, but in that peculiar sense which is denoted by the new creation” – Albert Barnes.

3.  Because of their rarity

In his devotion on “God’s jewels,” Arthur Pinks speaks of the rarity of precious gems: “It is this, chiefly, which constitutes the value of precious stones.  Were they numerous and common, found in the soil of every man’s garden, they would not be so costly, nor so highly esteemed.”

True believers are born of God: “…born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1: 13).  It is God’s irresistible grace that draws us unto Him.  We should not wonder, therefore, at the few who are saved.  Only those called and drawn by the Spirit God will call upon the Lord and be saved.  “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22: 14). 

“If then you set aside all that make a profession of religion, but the temper of whose spirits and the tenor of whose conversation are a constant contradiction to it; if you set aside all the profane, and all the hypocritical, you will find that they are few, very few, that are chosen; many called to the wedding feast, but few chosen to the wedding garment, that is, to salvation, by sanctification of the Spirit.  This is the strait gate, and narrow way, which few find” – Matthew Henry.

Many will call on the name of Christ and exhibit some semblance of true saving faith.  But soon they are proven otherwise.  Gradually they return to their old ways and are found no more amongst the children of God.  Not many will stay on the strait and narrow way that leads to life.  Not many will endure to the very end.  How we thank God for His electing grace upon us who were once undeserving sinners.  The Lord will graciously preserve His precious rare gems until the very end (Jn. 10: 27-29).
 
4.  Because of their beauty

 “The jewel is prized for its lustre.  It is the brilliance of the gem which, in a great measure, is the evidence and test of its value.  It is said that the colours of jewels are the brightest known, and are the nearest approaches to the rays of the solar spectrum that have yet been discovered.  See how the diamond flashes and sparkles!  And yet its beauty and brilliance are not so much inherent.  Examine it in a dark room, and it emits no radiance.  It is simply a reflector: its glory is borrowed from the light.  So it is with the saint: his loveliness is a loveliness which has been placed upon him, imputed to him.  ‘I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels’ (Isa. 61:10)” – Arthur Pink.

As God’s redeemed, we are called to be the lights in this world of darkness:  “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5: 16).  May we learn daily to manifest love and grace in our relationship with those around us.  When we love and forgive others, the world will know “that ye are My disciples” (Jn. 13: 35).  “When our brethren stand in need of help from us, and we have an opportunity of being serviceable to them, when they differ in opinion and practice from us, or are any ways rivals with or provoking to us, and so we have an occasion to condescend and forgive, in such cases as this it will be known whether we have this badge of Christ’s disciples” – Matthew Henry. 

Brethren, let the beauty of Christ be seen daily in us.  Reflect the light of God’s grace that those in darkness might find the way of light and life everlasting. 

- Pastor