GOD’S JEWELS’ “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” Malachi 3:17
‘God’s Jewels’, this statement is full of the unfrustrated counsel of God. It reminds us of those words of David in Psalm 33:11 when he said, “The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, and the thoughts of His heart, from generation to generation.” I see at least three encouraging things in Malachi’s prophecy. Number one, God has staked a claim on His people. Here He calls them ‘my jewels,’ reminding us of those assuring words of our Lord Jesus Christ making certain the salvation of His people, “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me and Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). We are reminded of His most blessed words in John 17:2, “As thou has given Him (the Son) power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.” To begin with ‘His jewels’ are viewed as diamonds in the rough. For some time each of His jewels lie deep in the mine of fallen humanity. Like their Father Abraham they must be “… digged from the hole of the pit…” (Isaiah 51). Once taken from the mine they must through process of refining be purified, having their dross separated from them. This comes through the process of trials and afflictions in a believer’s life. Often our most disappointing and debilitating experience is most profitable to our being conformed to the image of Christ. Another thing we must know is that God is not on a treasure hunt, He knows where His jewels are to be found; “The foundation of the Lord standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His” (II Timothy 2:19). The second thing we learn in Malachi’s statement is God’s divine pledge; “They shall be mine.” The pledge is grounded upon His eternal decree of election and assures their effectual calling. He has “loved them with an everlasting love,” therefore, in time, with “loving kindness He shall draw them,” says Jeremiah (31:3). Then the he third thing Malachi teaches us in this statement is that there will be a day of divine exhibition, “In that day.” There is coming a great day, a most glorious day, of gathering. God shall send forth His holy angels and they shall gather together His elect of both Jews and Gentiles from the Four Corners of the earth, says Jesus in Matthew 24. They shall come from the North and from the South and from the East and from the West, and sit down with Abraham in the Kingdom. Oh glorious day of exhibition, when the complete number of His redeemed are regenerated and polished; when He shall descend from Heaven with a shout, resurrect the sleeping saints and transform the living ones and rapture them together, so that we shall ‘ever be with the Lord’. AMEN!
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