In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee,…and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23)
We are Christ’s jewels. We are to shine brightly for Him, shedding forth the light of His loveliness. The luster of a Christian depends on the polishing they receive. They may choose to be polished or to remain unpolished. But every one who is pronounced worthy of a place in the Lord’s temple must submit to the polishing process. Without it, they can’t reflect more light than a common pebble.
Christ says to man. “You are mine. I have bought you. You are now only a rough stone, but if you will place yourself in my hands, I will polish you, and the luster with which you shall shine will bring honor to My name. No man shall pluck you out of my hand. I will make you My treasure. On my coronation day, you will be a jewel in My crown of rejoicing.”
This polishing process, however, is severe and trying; it hurts human pride.
Christ cuts deep into the experience that man in his self-sufficiency has regarded as complete, and takes away self-uplifting from the character. He cuts away the surplus surface, and putting the stone to the polishing wheel, presses it close, that all roughness may be worn away. Then, holding the jewel up to the light the Master sees in it a reflection of Himself, and He pronounces it worthy of a place in His casket.
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee,…and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23)
Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, and causes it to shine with living brightness.
—
E. G. White, The Review and Herald, December 19, 1907
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