Life-Lessons From Gems
I love gemstones. I love everything about them—the color, brilliance, various shapes and cuts, and also what each gemstone symbolizes. I love being fascinated by this lavish form of beauty, fashioned by our Creator. And (since I handcraft jewelry myself) I have found myself contemplating some lessons and truths as I create. Here are some of them:
1) All gemstones must be mined and unearthed (or, in the case of pearls, dived into the ocean for). In other words, what is precious and valuable is not something you just pick up along the way. It requires persistent hard work, and going deep into areas that are dark (perhaps even frightening or dangerous) in order to bring out of hidden places that which is priceless.
2) It has been said (and is true) that the pearl is the only gemstone produced by a living creature. And that, through much discomfort and suffering. Interestingly enough, JESUS referred to “The Pearl of Great Price” (rather than any other gemstone) in one of His parables. And we are told that the very Gates of Heaven are designed from these priceless jewels (no doubt, a whole sermon could be derived from that brief mention in Scripture).
3) While it is sad and unfortunate that occultists have misused gemstones for purposes our God never intended, it is important to not forget that He did indeed create them, and that (aside from their visible beauty) He intended for them to symbolize various meanings and truths. (This fact is apparent by His direct instructions regarding the ephod worn by the Jewish High Priest, together with the vast description we have of the way that gemstones are implemented in Heaven’s design.)
It is sad that, in some stricter Christian circles, gemstones (or any form of decoration) are viewed as something worldly that should be shunned. While it is true that we are told to not lay up our treasures here on earth, and (women specifically) are not let our decoration be (merely) external through wearing jewelry, no where does in Scripture does it say that we are forbidden to enjoy the beauty of gemstones that God has created, or to shun wearing them. God made them for our enjoyment, and to remind us of the truths that each one symbolizes, and to keep us looking forward to the Heaven that is to come.
4) The most durable crystal structure known to man is not necessarily the Diamond, but rather its close competitor: Moissanite. Interestingly enough, this gemstone is not produced on earth, but comes from outer space—from asteroids hitting our planet. This little-known gem is so strong that it is used in specially designed body armor, and is able to withstand up to 40 rounds of ammunition and grenades being launched at it from close ranges. While other gemstones tend to lose their color and brilliance over time, Moissanite never fades or loses its shine, but maintains its integrity and stays true to itself. Despite this, few people actually know of Moissanite’s true worth (or the fact that this very valuable gemstone can be bought at an infinitely more affordable price than that required for Diamonds), and treat/esteem it as less valuable.
Now think about all that for a moment. In the same way that this powerfully strong gem does not come from anything on earth but rather “from above”, our strength to overcome life’s battles (and the vicious assaults of our spiritual foe) cannot come from anything here on earth either, but must come from Above as well. JESUS came from Heaven to earth to not only deliver us from eternal damnation, but to give us His impenetrable, unyielding strength as well. Yet, despite the free gift He offers, many continue to live in ignorance of this treasure that could be theirs just for the asking, and choose instead to spend their energy and resources on the glamorous-looking quick-fixes that the world promises to give them.
5) The more clarity and cuts a gemstone has, the more brilliantly the light shines through, and the incredibly valuable and costly it becomes. The most gorgeous gems are not the ones with few or no cuts, but those with an infinite number. They are also not the ones that cannot be seen through, but rather, those that are the most transparent. Now ponder how that relates to your own life for a moment… Do you feel as if everyone around you can see right through you? Are all of your trials and heartaches in full view of everyone around you, with no place to hide them? …Do not lose heart. You are not common; you are not broken rubble. You are a priceless gem in the eyes of our Great, merciful God. He paid the price of Heaven to obtain you, and even now He is in the process of making you a magnificent gemstone of great price. Your cuts and vulnerable transparency are the very things He is using to cause His great light and glory to shine through, and one day everyone around you will marvel at the astonishing beauty that He has created in you.
6) Because I hand-craft all of my jewelry and care a great deal about the uniqueness and quality of my creations, I carefully select each gemstone that I use. There are visions in my head that no one else can see but me, and I know how the various pieces are going to fit together, long before any of them meet. But sometimes it takes a great amount of time and diligent searching on my part. There are gemstones I have purchased that may sit untouched for a very long time, before I ever bring them out and begin piecing my creations together. Why? Because I paid a great price for them—and I will not just throw them together with anything I happen to have lying around at the moment. I will put them together with inferior materials that do properly compliment them, and offset the great beauty I have toiled to create.
Do you feel as though you have been abandoned on a solitary shelf, as though God has been taking His sweet time, or (worse) has forgotten you? Has your God-breathed vision remained just that—an intangible vision, that no one else around you can seem to see or fathom? Are you beginning to wonder if things will ever come together, or if your life is doomed to remain a pile of disjointed pieces? …Do not lose heart. Your great, loving Father has a vision far greater than what you can see, and (even if you cannot see it or sense Him moving) He is even now searching, working on your behalf to bring all the missing pieces together, so that He can create a masterpiece for His own glory.
1) All gemstones must be mined and unearthed (or, in the case of pearls, dived into the ocean for). In other words, what is precious and valuable is not something you just pick up along the way. It requires persistent hard work, and going deep into areas that are dark (perhaps even frightening or dangerous) in order to bring out of hidden places that which is priceless.
2) It has been said (and is true) that the pearl is the only gemstone produced by a living creature. And that, through much discomfort and suffering. Interestingly enough, JESUS referred to “The Pearl of Great Price” (rather than any other gemstone) in one of His parables. And we are told that the very Gates of Heaven are designed from these priceless jewels (no doubt, a whole sermon could be derived from that brief mention in Scripture).
3) While it is sad and unfortunate that occultists have misused gemstones for purposes our God never intended, it is important to not forget that He did indeed create them, and that (aside from their visible beauty) He intended for them to symbolize various meanings and truths. (This fact is apparent by His direct instructions regarding the ephod worn by the Jewish High Priest, together with the vast description we have of the way that gemstones are implemented in Heaven’s design.)
It is sad that, in some stricter Christian circles, gemstones (or any form of decoration) are viewed as something worldly that should be shunned. While it is true that we are told to not lay up our treasures here on earth, and (women specifically) are not let our decoration be (merely) external through wearing jewelry, no where does in Scripture does it say that we are forbidden to enjoy the beauty of gemstones that God has created, or to shun wearing them. God made them for our enjoyment, and to remind us of the truths that each one symbolizes, and to keep us looking forward to the Heaven that is to come.
4) The most durable crystal structure known to man is not necessarily the Diamond, but rather its close competitor: Moissanite. Interestingly enough, this gemstone is not produced on earth, but comes from outer space—from asteroids hitting our planet. This little-known gem is so strong that it is used in specially designed body armor, and is able to withstand up to 40 rounds of ammunition and grenades being launched at it from close ranges. While other gemstones tend to lose their color and brilliance over time, Moissanite never fades or loses its shine, but maintains its integrity and stays true to itself. Despite this, few people actually know of Moissanite’s true worth (or the fact that this very valuable gemstone can be bought at an infinitely more affordable price than that required for Diamonds), and treat/esteem it as less valuable.
Now think about all that for a moment. In the same way that this powerfully strong gem does not come from anything on earth but rather “from above”, our strength to overcome life’s battles (and the vicious assaults of our spiritual foe) cannot come from anything here on earth either, but must come from Above as well. JESUS came from Heaven to earth to not only deliver us from eternal damnation, but to give us His impenetrable, unyielding strength as well. Yet, despite the free gift He offers, many continue to live in ignorance of this treasure that could be theirs just for the asking, and choose instead to spend their energy and resources on the glamorous-looking quick-fixes that the world promises to give them.
5) The more clarity and cuts a gemstone has, the more brilliantly the light shines through, and the incredibly valuable and costly it becomes. The most gorgeous gems are not the ones with few or no cuts, but those with an infinite number. They are also not the ones that cannot be seen through, but rather, those that are the most transparent. Now ponder how that relates to your own life for a moment… Do you feel as if everyone around you can see right through you? Are all of your trials and heartaches in full view of everyone around you, with no place to hide them? …Do not lose heart. You are not common; you are not broken rubble. You are a priceless gem in the eyes of our Great, merciful God. He paid the price of Heaven to obtain you, and even now He is in the process of making you a magnificent gemstone of great price. Your cuts and vulnerable transparency are the very things He is using to cause His great light and glory to shine through, and one day everyone around you will marvel at the astonishing beauty that He has created in you.
6) Because I hand-craft all of my jewelry and care a great deal about the uniqueness and quality of my creations, I carefully select each gemstone that I use. There are visions in my head that no one else can see but me, and I know how the various pieces are going to fit together, long before any of them meet. But sometimes it takes a great amount of time and diligent searching on my part. There are gemstones I have purchased that may sit untouched for a very long time, before I ever bring them out and begin piecing my creations together. Why? Because I paid a great price for them—and I will not just throw them together with anything I happen to have lying around at the moment. I will put them together with inferior materials that do properly compliment them, and offset the great beauty I have toiled to create.
Do you feel as though you have been abandoned on a solitary shelf, as though God has been taking His sweet time, or (worse) has forgotten you? Has your God-breathed vision remained just that—an intangible vision, that no one else around you can seem to see or fathom? Are you beginning to wonder if things will ever come together, or if your life is doomed to remain a pile of disjointed pieces? …Do not lose heart. Your great, loving Father has a vision far greater than what you can see, and (even if you cannot see it or sense Him moving) He is even now searching, working on your behalf to bring all the missing pieces together, so that He can create a masterpiece for His own glory.
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