Dear Friend,

The ultimate wordsmith, God searched His unsearchably deep heart for just the right word to describe His beloved remnant. His choice?

Jewels! Malachi records His decision: "And they [the faithful remnant] shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels" (Malachi 3:17). It is only natural that we ask three questions here.

First, of whom was God speaking? Second, what is the symbolic meaning of God calling these ancient Jews "jewels"? Third, what does this mean to us today?

The subjects Malachi described were the righteous remnant of Jews in the post-captivity era. But, prophetically, they foreshadow the righteous Jewish remnant of the Tribulation. It is most important, however, that we ponder God's description of them. He uses four words to describe them: fear, fellowship, fascination, fame.

They feared the Lord, "Then they that feared the Lord..." (Malachi 3:16). So, they had the ultimate respect for Yahweh, standing in awe of Him and submissively believing, obeying, and worshiping Him. They did not take Him lightly, nor did He them. He was not an interesting religious addition to their life; He was their life!

They fellowshiped with other remnant Jews, and often: "They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another..." (Malachi 3:16). Driven by desire for comaraderie, and perhaps by loneliness also, they eagerly sought out other fully committed believers with whom they could freely share the deep things of God - what His Word revealed, what His Spirit was saying, what He was doing in their hearts and lives, how He had corrected or blessed them, how they had seen His hand move answering prayer in their lives and nation. This spiritual intercourse was comforting, healing, and sustaining as they faced unrelenting reproach and ostracization from the unspiritual majority of uncommitted Jews in their day. So, they fellowshipped as often as they could, ever searching for new ways to get together and grow together.

They were fascinated with God, specifically His nature and honor: "Them that . . . thought upon His name [nature, reputation]" (Malachi 3:16). So, daily, perhaps hourly, they meditated on the nature of Yahweh - His mighty love, spotless holiness, unbending righteousness, tender mercies, and unfailing faithfulness to all of His Word. And His reputation was above all. They remembered all His mighty acts, special deliverances, and just judgments, and how He cared so sweetly and constantly for His people. They were fascinated with His honor and, lovingly focused on it, they determined above all else to increase His honor in their lives.

And they were famous - not on earth, but in heaven. With His eyes fixed on them, God took action to be sure that they would ever be remembered and never be forgotten down the endless eons of eternity: "And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord..." (Malachi 3:16). Thus, they were history's most famous anonymous people ever. And long after this world's famous ones are forgotten, their humility, faithfulness, and devotion to God will still be talked about and honored in the golden streets of New Jerusalem.

For these reasons - their fear, fellowship, fascination, and fame - God likened this faithful remnant of God-lovers to jewels. His jewels. And His alone! Yes, He will not share them, they are forever His! He will put them in His gilded treasure chest, New Jerusalem, with others of similar spiritual beauty, wealth, and radiance.

But what is God saying about His faithful remnant by representing them as "jewels"?

Initially, jewels, which are primarily gemstones, have it rough. They must be extracted from their rocky sources, and then painstakingly cut, faceted, and polished. So, they are thoroughly worked over before they are oohed and awed over. They experience pain before they enjoy privileges.

Jewels are very valuable, worth far more per ounce than other natural substances and bring a great price at market. They are loved, as some people are more fond of gems than people! They are precious, always set apart from other possessions in ornate mounts, boxes, bags, or cabinets. They are hidden, always concealed in secret places or safes when not in use and never left out among worthless items.

They are protected, by metal locks and chains or armed guards, so that no one can steal or harm them. They are used with honor by their owners, removed from storage to be worn with pride as necklaces, rings, bracelets, or crowns. They are translucent, receiving and transmitting light rather than blocking it. They are closely observed, and every time they are brought out for use, people focus on them and comment on their light, sparkle and beauty. And they are colorful, coming in every shade of color, including clear!

This jewel metaphor holds rich meaning for us. Every utterly committed, wholly surrendered, remnant Christian disciple is one of God's jewels. That is, as long as we:

* Fear Him, drawing back from sin and moving forward in worship, ever nearer His presence

* Fellowship often with other committed ones, strengthening each other's faith and devotion by sharing biblical insights, answers to prayer, life lessons, and sweet mutual respect

* Remain fascinated with His name, meditating on His character and marveling at His reputation as Savior and Deliverer as shown in His Word, and seeking ever to enhance His honor

* Seek fame in Him and His kingdom, not in this meaningless, dying world filled with infamy and shame

We may be of any color, because character, not color, counts with God, and the more colorful His gemstones, the better! Whatever our station in life, like gemstones, we must suffer before we sparkle (1 Peter 5:10). We must deny our selfish desires and learn obedience by the undesirable things we suffer if we would shine with the humility and contentment of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8). Our heavenly Father cuts, shapes, and polishes us for His use as we learn to always obey His Word, call, and Spirit's guidance, whatever the cost. We will grow increasingly beautiful to Him, as He sees us becoming ever more faithful, like His greatest Jewel, Jesus. He will love and cherish us more as we love and cherish close, personal, spiritual fellowship with our fellow believers. He will protect us from harmful dangers and hardships, and allow only those adversities that develop and mature us spiritually (1 Corinthians 10:13).

He will hide us for a season, while He trains us to abide very closely to Him, study very deeply His Word, listen very carefully to His voice, and obey very diligently His will. And if He wishes to put a high polish on us, He may let us practice these graces for a season even after we have learned to consistently walk in them. But we need not fear, He will always in His time and way let us shine. The more He polishes us, the more He shines through us His light - the light of Jesus, His Word, His wisdom, His salvation, His prophecy, His compassion, and His healing of soul and body. For to us, His remnant of last-days jewels, "the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). And we will radiate the many facets of His healing - in hearts, minds, marriages, families, churches, cities, nations - as the miraculously powerful, life-filled, light beams of Jesus' glory shine upon and through us in this hopelessly dark, secular, End-Times world.

And though this world may never know us, daily we will become more well known among the saints and angels above, that "cloud of witnesses" that track and cheer our every step of humble obedience to the King of Glory. They are writing the book on our lives and, while that volume will never be a bestseller in this world, it will never cease to be read by the redeemed, to honor our trust and obedience and, more importantly, to honor the One whose infinite grace walked us through this perilous world to bring us to eternal life in His presence in forever!

So, cheer up! There's lots of room in God's treasure chest for many more of His believer-jewels. Do you want to enjoy the enviable privileges of this spiritually rich "jewel" life? Live like a jewel - in holy fear, frequent fellowship, fascination with God's name, and the pursuit of heavenly fame - and God will treat you like one!

Seeking to be His jewel,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries