Provided by Ron Walters
Diamond! Such a simple word, but it embodies one of nature’s rarest finds. No other gemstone dances in the light, or splashes with colors, or dazzles with clarity … or shocks with its price tag.
Whether it’s the Cullinan Diamond, with its 3,106 carats (that’s 1.5 pounds, and no that’s not a typo!), or a minute speck mounted on a bride’s wedding band, the diamond is the crème de la crème of gemstones.
The ancient world was fascinated, but had no category for diamonds. And since they appeared indestructible, folks assumed they were fragments from the stars or teardrops from the gods. Plato even believed they were living beings.
Later, in the Dark Ages, diamonds were considered a remedy for sickness – hold one in your hand, make a sign of the cross with the other, and you’d get well. For the wealthy, doctors prescribed swallowing one before bedtime.
Considering the unique character of diamonds, crazy myths seemed believable.
Today we know the diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth – 58 times harder than any other material. In fact, the only thing that can scratch a diamond is … another diamond.
We also know when light – traveling 186,000 miles per second – hits a diamond, that light slams on the brakes, slowing to 80,000 mps as it detours its way through the immensely dense maze of wall-to-wall atoms. And, as it passes through the faceted patterns, light bends and splits into a dazzling display of rainbow colors.
There’s nothing in the world quite like them … and that’s the point. A diamond is uncommonly special. A piece of glass cannot wish itself into becoming a diamond, even though many synthetic gemstones are poised as diamonds to unsuspecting buyers.
However, the industry has official approval systems to protect those of us who know nothing about diamonds. Their sole purpose is to identify the real from the fake.
The same principle is true within the church – God has His own approval system to verify the authentic from the false.
Being approved is a familiar concept in both Old and New Testaments. God frequently uses the term when speaking of those in ministry. The Hebrew of approved translates, “To be pleased with.” The Greek is even grittier, “To be tested for approval.“
Here are four stages of God’s approval process. Use them as a self-examination and see how well you do…
- Our calling requires His approval. (2 Cor 10.18) “It is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.” The praise or criticism of the world doesn’t determine our approval. In fact, what the world says is inconsequential. What matters is what God says. And our goal is to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- Our ministry is tested. (1 Thes 2.4) “Just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, we speak, not to please men, but God who examines our hearts.” We were not self-appointed. We do not speak on our own authority. God gave us this massive responsibility for preaching the gospel and building up His church.
- Our efforts are tested. (2 Tim 2.15) “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” We’re to give maximum effort to impart God’s truth as completely and as clearly as possible. By doing so, we present ourselves as approved to God.
- Our lives are tested. (James 1.12) “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” The challenges of ministry aren’t meant to derail us, but to cause us to lean entirely on Him.
May God be pleased and find us approved in all these things!
Diamond! By Ron Walters