They shall be mine. They're precious in God's eyes, more than Diamond or the whole treasure of earth. We are not Adamant! if we ever doubted our own worth, or do not know where to go from where we are, or we are losing heart, then listen to Father God saying, Isaiah 43:4 Since thou hast been honourable & I have loved thee...; "Wife, tell your husband, Dad "Know your worth!" You are not an adamant stone!
To all dad, please take a look of the pattern of the Lord Jesus prayer, if you do this to God & your kids will do the same.
I can't say, "Our Father" if I live only for myself & if i do not endeavor (try hard) each day to act like His child. I can't say "Which art in heaven" If I'm laying up no treasure there, I can't say. "Hallowed be Thy Name" if I am striving for holiness, I can't say "Thy kingdom come", If I'm not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event. I cannot say "Thy will be done" If i am disobedience to His word. Lastly, i can't say "On earth, as it is in heaven" If I will not serve Him here and now.
Precious in God's eyes? Could it be true? It's amazing that God clearly demonstrates our values throughout the Bible. Imagine anything on this earth. that we value, and it's incomparable to how God feels about us. Think for a moment about the diamond. They are rare, beautiful & hardest of all gem stone. But they are nothing compared to how God values us. Does God really think you and I are more precious than diamonds? We, who fall and fail more often than we care to admit? An Adamant stone.
In comparison of God's jewels-circumcised heart against Diamond-Adamant Heart.
A. An adamant heart - the ancient greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to earth. The word diamond in the greek language translates as "Adamas" which means unconquerable and indestructible. What does it mean to have a Diamond heart according to the bible?
1. What is a diamond heart? The bible refers to it to the state of man's heart and & its hardness. This is manifested when the ear is not given to the words of God, rejecting his authority and disobeying his will. In Zec, 7:12, "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law & the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.
2. Who can know it? Jer 7:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things & desperately wicked, who can know it?" At present, we can observe that society is immersed in enormous chaos where disorder and hardness of heart reigns that refuse to listen and to obey God's voice.
3. The beginning of sorrows. "Men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things coming to earth." Luke 21:26 That is why we can see unjust and endless war. We can also observe cruel and inhuman treatment. We also see greed, crime, evil among many other things.
B. Now how the saints be compared to diamond? The word translated jewels signifies a peculiar treasure as the Church of God are more excellent in his sight than all other men.
The church or saints may be compared to a diamond or jewels.
1. Because of their rarity - Jewels are only found in certain places, and only worn by certain persons. So the saints are said to be "a very little flock" In Matt. 24:14, "for many are called, but few are chosen" And in Matt. 24:24 "And if it were possible,, they shall deceive the very elect"
2. Because they cost the Lord Jesus very dear. Jewels are costly. Being rare, they are enhanced in price. The Son of God redeemed these jewels by His own precious blood.
3. Because He has an infinite esteem of them. They are His treasure and His affections are where they are. Since they were purchased by the Blood of His Son, they are precious in His sight and honourable. He thinks on them with approbation, He speaks of them, and to them, with delight.
1 Pet. 2:9, "but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
4. Because He keeps them in safety. They are set on His heart & cannot be taken away. Mal. 3:17 "And they shall be mine (AWESOME) 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"
C. HOW SHALL THE LORD MAKE UP HIS DIAMOND OR JEWELS?
1. Blessed Hope. This refers either to His work in His jewels in time or to His procedure at the day of judgement in Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ"
1. Separate His sheep to the goat. Matt 25:33 "And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" It may refer to His work of grace in taking them all from corrupted mass of human nature.
3. Corruptible to incorruptible - He begins the work of sanctification in them & brings it to a glorious issue. 1 Cor 15:52, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound & the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed."
4. Finishing touch - God refines His people by His Spirit, by His Word, & by His providences, till they become without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Eph 5:27, "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
5. Then face to face - In the last sense of declaration, they shall be made up, when their number is completed in the day of the Lord. And they shall be presented perfect in holiness. 1 Cor 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face, now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known"
D. WHAT IS THE DAY ON WHICH THE LORD SHALL MAKE UP HIS JEWELS?
1. A day for which saints are constantly preparing. Longing for which they wait longing for which they love, and longing to watch with hastening. "He which testifieth these things, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20)
2. The great & notable day of the Lord. A day which shall be the end of time, the end of the world. and of the present system of things. New heaven, new jerusalem, and a new earth (Rev 21:1-2)
CONCLUSION: Don't stay in a place where no one sees your value. Know your worth and know where you are valued. A diamond does not shine on the bottom of cave. Let Jesus shine on you. Shall we stand and pray together.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!