[424 words]
You might have more in common with a diamond than you think. Scientists believe that most diamonds are made of carbon about 100 miles below the surface of the earth under tremendous pressure where temperatures reach 2000 degrees. The high heat and pressure combine to crystalize the carbon changing the arrangement of the atoms. When this occurs, the carbon goes from black to clear. Now that the diamond is changed it must get to the surface. There has to be a deep volcanic eruption that blasts rock and diamonds up to the surface.
I remember buying my wife’s wedding ring. I was a college student only working part time. The ring is small, and the diamond quality is not the best. There are several inclusions in the diamond, small pieces of carbon that never crystalized. We start out full of sin, but we can be changed into something wonderful! Like the diamond, we face challenges in our lives that bring about that change. As Christians, we will face difficulties if we are living for Christ. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NAS). Living the Christian life sets us apart from the world. We face trials that make us stronger because of our faith.
When we become Christians, we are to be changed to become like Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;…” (Gal. 2:20, NAS). The sad truth is that we have parts of our life, inclusions in our souls, and sin that we hold onto, where we do not act Christ like.
There will be a final transformation for us as Christians. “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor.15:50-52, NAS). We will be changed and raised imperishable, no longer trapped in this dark world. We will have a life full of light in heaven with God. Transformation is necessary if we want to be pleasing to God. Are you becoming what God wants you to be?
Brad Tolbert
Monticello church of Christ
Monticello, AR