Transformed
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Introduction
Introduction
One of the largest industries in the world, is that of the jewelry industry.
The revenue of the industry amounts to almost $60 Billion dollars a year, and it is growing.
Gold for instance, is currently up to over $1,700 an oz.
Now, if you don’t know how much an oz is, find a new pencil, that weighs roughly one oz.
There are ads constantly on television and the radio for some kind of sale or special on jewelry at local stores.
And if I had to guess I would say most, here this morning are wearing some sort of jewelry, or at least own some sort.
But this industry has to start somewhere, right? I mean those stones in your ring, or necklace, bracelet or earrings don’t just pop out of the ground ready to be put into a piece of metal to wear.
I grew up in a gem mine. My family has worked an active mine, in NC, since 1966.
They mine, ruby, sapphires, and a stone called Rhodolite. *which is a rare pink garnet.
These rocks come in many different shapes, sizes, color and hardness.
Some are easy to find, others are buried much deeper in the earth because they form under different circumstances.
*If these rocks were laid out on a table, and I told you, that you could have one of the three, which one would you pick?
You may think, well, two are random rocks we would see on the ground any given day, and one is a basket full of colorful and wonderful looking rocks.
It’s a no-brainer, right!
Most would choose the basket, because theres more, and they are more beautiful.
And you would be right, they are more beautiful, and if that were all the information that I gave you, you would be content to just have a basket full of pretty rocks. You would be thinking you had hit the “mother-load.”
Choose
Choose
There are people all over this world, that are obsessed with searching for and finding rocks. They are appropriately called “Rockhounds.”
They travel all over the world looking for specific gems and minerals to collect.
They find these stones and choose which ones to keep and which ones to leave behind.
Jesus said something similar in: John15:16
John 15:16 (ESV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you...
But it’s a little different right? Christ will take all of us. He takes us where we are, with all of our dirt, and imperfections and places us into that collection.
But this is only where the process starts. Theres many more steps to get the finished product.
You see the precious rocks don’t come out of the ground beautiful. They come out ugly, dirty, and nasty.
If you were to take these other two rocks and clean them up a little bit, they would still look like ugly rocks. But they would show a little more character.
Now the decision has changed a little bit right? Because there is a little more beauty to the other two choices.
And you may have some guess what they are, but you may still pick that basket of “pretty” rocks.
And still these two, don’t look like anything of value or something you would want to wear on your finger or around your neck.
To the person who knows what they are looking at, they would choose one of the other two. Because they are the most precious and valuable.
No one wants stones that look like this.
Maybe not even this.
But they are still valuable.
But what does it take to form these stones into something valuable and precious?
At this point the stone must be transformed into the image that we think of when we think of a diamond.
So a person called a lapidary must take over at this point.
This person will take the stone and start to examine it under a magnifying glass looking for imperfections.
They may look at this stone for days before they ever decide the right way to cut the stone to get the largest most valuable stone out of the raw rock.
Even once they have decided on how they will form the stone, they are still hours away from a finished product.
They begin to grind away at the stone, and form surfaces called facets.
A typical round diamond has around 60 different surfaces, or facets on it. And each one is measured and angled to minute detailed measurements to get the most value out of the stone.
This process can take anywhere from hours to days. But if done properly the finished product will be what we envision as a true diamond.
Transformed
Transformed
Only a trained lapidary can truly transform these stones into a valuable work of art.
In the same manner, we can only be transformed by God. We have to allow him to transform us into the perfect piece that He needs, to fulfill his plan.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
You see when we present ourselves to God, we come to Him as we are, and He takes us as we are in that raw, dirty state.
And we learn to trust that He will mold us and make us into what He envisions us to be.
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.
God works in our life, day in and day out to transform us into the image of Christ.
He makes us into a new creation, by getting rid of that old dirty outer image, and transforms us.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
God knows the adjustments that are needed in each person to create them into this new creation.
And as that new creation we are to glorify our creator.
Ownership
Ownership
The greatest lapidary artist and companies are known for their work.
Some will even engrave their initials or company into the edge of the diamond, so small that you need a microscope to see it.
This label may even include a serial number that can be traced back to the artist.
This actually adds value to the stone. Being able to prove that a specific diamond or stone was cut by a world renowned cutter is a bump in price.
When we allow God to transform us, we belong to Him.
The Psalmist writes...
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
As his handiwork we are to glorify God with out new life.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
How do we use this new creation to bring glory to God?
Are we serving, are we participating, are we truly allowing God to use us.
Because the sad part is that Satan too, can be a lapidary artist.
Real and Fake
Real and Fake
Take a look at these two stones.
By looking at them can you tell me which one is a true diamond?
They are both brilliant and beautiful.
Many would be fine wearing either one.
Even the name of the “fake” has the word diamond in it.
One of these stones is a true diamond, and the other is called a “Herkimer Diamond.”
To the untrained eye, there is almost no difference. But if you begin to examine them closely you will find major differences in the make up of the stones.
What makes a diamond real, is what its made of, and how it is made.
When our life is examined by the world, do we just appear as the image of Christ on the outside? If they begin to dig in and look closer will they find that we are just fake? Or will they see that we are truly Christians to the core?
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Decision
Decision
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus offered two options to those there, that is still true today.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
There are two gates from which to choose, there are two roads, and we must decide on which one we will travel.
Jesus didn’t close his sermon wanting praise or approval, instead he closed by demanding a decision.
Many in the world today will praise a sermon without ever intending to apply it to their lives.
But Jesus closes by demanding a decision be made.
First - Consider the two gates.
One is narrow and one is wide. But what do they represent?
Many have said they represent those who are believers and those who are unbelievers. While that interpretation may be true, there may be a different intent.
Some have said the two represent different religious groups. Only one group is on the right road, all others are on the wrong road.
I think tho, He is not just referring to believers and unbelievers, but to two types of “righteous people.”
Theres a very narrow road that holds the kind of people who walk by righteousness inside and out.
But theres a gigantic interstate highway full of people who walk with a pharisaic brand of righteousness.
People on the broad road are saying “Lord, Lord! Didn’t we call on your name? Didn’t we do all these wonderful things in your name?
These are the people who appear as sheep but are wolves on the inside.
And the narrow road holds those who are poor in spirit, who mourn over sin, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for internalized righteousness.
Jesus said most of the people are going to try to go on the pharisaic highway, and only a few who decide to let God take over.
Having told of the two gates, the two choices, Jesus goes on to tell which of the two people have chosen.
Sometimes we think it is easy to recognize false Christians. Because we assume they will look the part.
But thats not true, they aren’t going to wear a shirt that says false Christian, they will dress the part.
Jesus said that only on the inside can you truly tell the difference.
Thats why He goes on to say by their fruit will you be able to recognize them.
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
To apply this to the analogy of gem stones.
You see, when a person finds a precious stone, they have a choice, they can take the stone to any ole stone cutter and trust them to transform the stone into a valuable work of art. Someone who may or may not have ever worked with that kind of material. Who may just fumble their way through the process.
Or they can take it to the master lapidary artist who has years of experience working with that specific stone. And knows how to read the material and create a beautiful work of art.
And I will be honest one is very inexpensive to have done, and one is much more expensive.
But as the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”
We have a decision to make, who are we going to allow to transform our lives?
Many will say God! And then find out the price and decided to go with the cheaper option, cause we just don’t want to pay price or say we cant afford all that it requires.
Besides the cheaper option still looks good, right?!
But it doesn’t hold the value that comes from being transformed into a new creation by the creator.
Conclusion
Conclusion
You see a perfect diamond is cut in such a way that all light that enters it, is refracted back through the top of the stone.
If you were to hold it up and shine a light on it, a perfectly cut diamond will actually cast a shadow on the wall behind it.
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount...
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Does our life truly reflect our heavenly Father
This morning that choice is yours.
What are we going to do with our life? We may say I’m here, I’m a Christian, but does our fruit show that we are truly that.
We must choose to let God transform our lives, and only Him.