What the world sees as trash God sees as treasure

Part 2: Eureka

“A diamond on the finger of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.” – Joseph Roux

I live in a country that is known for its diamonds. South Africa maintains its position as a major diamond producer in the world.

Diamonds, natural creations made from carbon, are said to warm up any heart of stone. Our gemstone story began in 1866 at the Orange River, when the young 15-year-old, Erasmus Jacobs, found a transparent pebble on his father’s farm. At the time, he did not know the value of this 21.25 carat stone. After a few months, Erasmus’ neighbour offered to buy the stone from him, however, Erasmus’ mum did not want any money for it, so she gave away South Africa’s first diamond. That brownish yellowish diamond was eventually sold and cut into a brilliant oval that weighed 10.73 carats.

The diamond was named Eureka, an Ancient Greek word that translates to “a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.”

South Africa simply went diamond crazy thereafter. South Africa is the home of the world’s largest diamond mine owned by the De Beers located in Kimberley. From 1871 to 1914, over 15 million diamonds were extracted from this human-dug mine, leaving the Kimberley mine to be the deepest hole excavated by hand. It can even be seen from space. They call this mine “The Big Hole.” The Big Hole has yielded some of the world’s largest diamonds, making the De Beers’ name world-renowned.

So, from pebbles to world-famous diamonds, one man’s trash can be seen as another man’s treasure.

Above are images of the Kimberley mine in South Africa

In Part 1 on “What the world sees as trash God sees as treasure” we established that we are God’s treasured possession. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV) says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

God’s Eureka moment

Can you imagine God’s Eureka moment, His cry of joy and satisfaction when He found and discovered us? This reminds me of the story of the lost coin and the lost sheep. (Luke 15: 1-10). How precious we all must be that God would leave the 99 to look for the one lost soul. When He finds you, He joyfully puts you on His shoulder and He tells everyone to come and join Him in celebration. He has found the lost one. What a moment of sheer joy; the beam on His face as He lifts ‘the lost one’ up to Heaven and cries with delight.

Nothing comes easy, trust the process

Tucked away deep within the earth’s mantle, diamonds are formed through high temperatures and pressure. It is a slow and intense process that can take millions of years to form. The labour-intensive process of extraction, cutting, and polishing is what transforms this ‘pebble’ into a diamond.

Romans 5:2-5 so beautifully explains that through life’s pressures, those demanding days when we feel like time has stood still, God is still at work, cutting and polishing His rough diamond into a priceless treasure. Since diamond is the hardest material in the world, diamond has to cut diamond. The Master Himself will remove all impurities as He spins us in His cutting wheel, smoothening, perfecting each reflective facet, and maximising our beauty to increase our value. He pours Himself in us as we reflect more and more of His image.

Romans 5:2-5 (NIV): “…And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

I choose the process, I trust the process. Rather be a diamond than a pebble.

It’s all about location.

Al Gilbertson, a researcher at the Geological Institute of America (GIA), stated that “if you think of a diamond like a series of mirrors reflecting its environment, it can help you understand how light and location can change the way your diamond appears. When you look at your diamond, you are also seeing a reflection of the surrounding environment, including yourself.”

Wow! We, like diamonds, are held in the hands of God and reflect the one who looks into us.

So what environment is reflected off us? Whose light radiates from us? Who can be seen in the mirrors of your heart?

2 Corinthians 3:18 English standard version (ESV) says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The lamb is the lamp

Your spiritual positioning plays a major role in determining the value of your life. It does not matter how the world sees you because God sees you as treasure, but the most important question to ask yourself is how do you see yourself?

If you surround yourself with trash, then you will reflect trash, but if you surround yourself with His presence and carry Him wherever you go, you are going to illuminate His brilliance. Are we behaving like we are God’s treasured possession?

It’s time to reposition yourself and to re-angle yourself to trap the light of the Bright Morning Star. Make the changes in your life today, speak His word, speak life, and speak positivity. Negativity and toxic thoughts have no hold on you.

What often amazes me about God is that despite our imperfections, flaws, and blemishes, and when we feel devalued at times, He still calls us His treasure. I leave you with Colossians 3:12 NIV: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

So, square your shoulders and sparkle.