Diamond is a mineral made when carbon has endured high pressure and high temperature in the depths of the earth for a long time. However, a rough diamond itself doesn’t look like a jewel at all. Besides, not all diamonds are treated as precious. Some of them are beautifully recreated through the hands of jewelers to attract the world’s attention, while others are processed and are used for industrial purposes. The value varies, depending on what kind of process it goes through.
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” Job 23:10, NLT
God likened the process of the refinement of faith to the process of obtaining gold. Pure gold refers to 99.9 percent gold, free from other metals. Gold, with almost no impurities, is valuable but requires a very complicated process to get it. How many refinements do we need to go through so that our faith can be blameless like pure gold before God?
Although I have a rough character and lack faith, I start the day with a thankful heart, dreaming of the day when I will become Mother’s beautiful ornament through refinement, just as a rough gemstone full of impurities has to withstand hot furnaces and numerous hammerings to be worth as a beautiful jewel.