Deaf Calvary Church

13 April 2008

The Skilled Blows of God

Posted by Pastor Chris Hughes under: Weekly Devotions .

Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most
magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the
king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to
Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert
lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took the gem
of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck a hard
blow with his instrument and–lo!–the superb jewel lay in his hand
cleft in two. Did he do this out of recklessness, wastefulness, and
criminal carelessness? Indeed not! For days and weeks that blow had
been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the
gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been
studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was
one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world.

Was that blow a mistake? No! It was the climax of the lapidary’s
skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would
bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and
jeweled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb
precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. From those two
halves were wrought two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of
the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from
the mine.

Sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The
blood spurts; the nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The
blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are
the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most
skilled lapidary in the universe.

Let us beware of questioning the methods and approaches of
almighty God. We lie in His hands, and He knows just how to deal
with us.

–James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 15.

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