The Master’s Diamond

“Ouch!” cried the wall of coal deep within the mine, “ Must you pick so hard?”

To which the miner responded with a smile, “ I see what you do not. You are of more value rooted from you place of comfort.

“Excuse me,” whined the lump of solitary coal. “Must the pressure be so great?”

To which the forger replied. “ I see what you cannot. You are more valuable after the pressure is applied.”

“Now hold on,” interrupted the mass of clear stone. “ Don’t you think you are being a little picky? Must your chipping be so fine?”

To which the jeweler replied. “ I see what you cannot. You are made more valuable by the precision of every cut.

“Gorgeous! Fantastic! A masterpiece!”, praised the awestruck admirers of the brilliant gem.

To which the diamond quietly smiled and mused to himself. “I have been through what you have not seen. From a crude rock I was taken. I suffered painful uprooting, intense pressure, and the discomfort of detailed chiseling. Yet through these undesirable circumstances I have been molded to perfection. Now I can shine to my fullest because the master jeweler saw what I could not– his masterpiece.

“Ouch!” cries God’s child. “ Must you root me from my place of pleasure.”

To which the loving Father responds. “ My child, I see what you cannot. You are of more use to me severed from those weights.”

“Excuse me,” whines the believer in distress. “Must the pressure of this trial be so great!”

To which the Lord replies tenderly, “Ye of little faith, I see what you cannot. You are more useful to me after the storm has calmed.”

“Now hold it!” defiantly cries the seasoned disciple. “Don’t you think you’re meddling. Must your judgment be so narrow!”

To which the patient master replies. “Oh, chosen one, I see what you cannot. You are more useful  to me when the layers of self are removed.”

“What a faithful member! What an example of the believers! What a hero of the faith!”  Testify those impacted by the saint’s ministry.

To which the saint humbly admits. “I have learned great lessons that you have not seen. From a carnal believer I was taken. Through severed weights, intense trials of faith, and the discomfort of surrender the Master was able to mold me into what I then could not see– His masterpiece through which now can shine the life of His Son.”

Inspired by James 1:1-4: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.