By John MacDuff
"And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels." -- Malachi 3:17
"MY JEWELS!" (or, My special treasure!) Of what favored creatures does Jehovah thus speak? Is it of seraphs? Is it of angels? Methinks, at such a title, even they would take the dust of abasement, and veiling their faces, cry, "Unclean! unclean!" But, marvel of marvels! It is redeemed sinners of the earth -- the fallen children of men; once crude, unshapely stones, lying in "the horrible pit and the miry clay," amid the rubbish of corruption, who are thus sought out by grace, purchased by love, destined through eternity to be set as jewels in the crown of the eternal God!
"The Lord's portion is His people." There is a surpassing revelation of love here. Great, unspeakably great, is the privilege of the believer, to be able to look up to the everlasting Jehovah, and say, "You are my portion, O Lord!" But what is this in comparison with the response of Omnipotence to the child of dust, "You are Mine!" Reader, have you learned to lisp your part in this wondrous interchange of covenant-love, "My beloved is Mine, and I am His!"
What an array of wondrous titles belong to the saints of God, and given, too, by God Himself, in His own Word! He calls them -- Sons! Brethren! Princes! Friends! Heirs! Jewels! My Portion!
Mine!
And when is the time when they become thus dear to Him? Sinner, when you wept at the cross of Jesus, and joined yourself in covenant with God, you became His jewel. No! "He has loved you with an everlasting love!" True, you are not yet set in His crown. You are yet undergoing the process of polishing. Affliction is preparing you; trial is needed to remove all the roughness and inequalities of nature, and make you fit for your Master's use. But, blessed thought! "Now it is God who has made us [literally, chiseled or polished us] for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." Yes, God Himself, the possessor, who prized that earthly jewel so much, as to give in exchange for it Heaven's "Pearl of great price!" He has the polishing in His own hand. He will not deal too rashly or roughly.
And where, meanwhile, is the casket in which these jewels are kept until the coronation-day arrives, when the crown of His Church triumphant (every saint a gem) will be placed on the head of Jesus? It is He, their Purchaser, their Proprietor, who preserves them. They are "kept by the power of God." Our great High Priest, the true Aaron, has them set in His breastplate; He bears them on His heart on His every approach to the throne. They are the precious stones set in gold upon the ephod! And though the sins of His people, and the designs of Satan, combine in doing what they can to destroy them, He declares that none shall ever pluck them out of His hand, or from His heart. A jewel in Immanuel's crown! Not only raised from the ash-heap to be set among princes, but to gem through eternity the Forehead that for me was once wreathed with thorns!
Shall I -- can I -- murmur at any way my Savior sees fit to polish and prepare me for such an honor as this? Let me sink down on my nightly pillow overpowered with the thought; and as I hear my covenant God whispering in my ear the astounding accents, "You are Mine!" I may well reply, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, LORD, only make me dwell in safety." -- Psalm 4:8
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