DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
1 Timothy 4:10-12 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (11) These are the things you must insist on and teach. (12) Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (NRSV).
“On September 26, 1991, In Oracle Arizona, eight scientists entered an airtight three acre miniworld called Biosphere 2in an experiment straight out of a science fiction movie. The $150 million facility designed to mimic earth’s environment was pored over and analyzed by the “explorers” living within its walls. Housed in a self-contained bubble were a miniature rain forest, a desert, an ocean, a mangrove swamp, a savanna and a small farm. The scientists grew their own food, recycled their own sewage and water and managed their air supply, inspected the ecosystems’ health collected data, studied and wrote.
…. Trees were growing faster in the Biosphere 2, than they would have in their normal earthly habitat. The reason for this was the absence of wind in the dome. When trees and plants grow in the wild, wind keeps moving them which helps create what is called “stress wood”. Without stress wood trees grow fast and would not be able to support themselves in the normal circumstances of the trees that are essential for their growth in normal circumstances”. (Jentezen Franklin. Acres of Diamonds. Minneaplois, Minnesota: Chosen, 2020. pp. 99 - 100). Now why is all of this important in relating to the journey of our Baccalaureates---graduates?
It is important because it helps us to see how God uses our “struggles and toils” that can give them the benefits of their own individual “stress wood” as they place their hope in the living God who is the Savior of all who believe (I Timothy 4:10 paraphrased). Later in the message, we will explore how we are "diamonds in the rough". The biggest takeaway from today's message is that when we fully rely on God, He can turn our struggles from hurdles and obstacles into stepping stones. God has a goal for each of them to unlock potential.
Today we will talk about conduct, faith and purity.
CONDUCT
What do you think of when you hear the word conduct? Do you think of it as a mark that one gets on a report card for good behavior?
1) Behavior: I once knew a young man who got great remarks on his report card on the academic side but on the conduct side not so much. Of course his parents chastised him about that and made it clear that they expected changes by the next report card. Our Heavenly Father has great expectations of us.
2) A white lie?: Years ago I had a retired church member who shared with me one of his childhood memories. He and his younger brother had been church dodging till he and his brother got caught. They would go by church, pick up a bulletin and then go and play hooky. One time, mamma found out that it was possible her two boys were not being truthful about their church attendance. It must have been a divide and conquer strategy. Mamma asked the oldest boy what did the preacher preach about today? “Sin” he said, hoping that would satisfy. Mamma asked, “what did he say about it?” Trying to dodge the issue further, he answered, “The preacher said he didn’t like it either”. The little brother started squirming at that point and mamma could tell by the oldest boy’s answers and the younger brother’s behavior that he was not telling the truth.
Is there such a thing as neutral ground?
1) Gray areas?: Non-believers might tell you yes, and describe what they believe those “gray areas” are. Believers know that there is no gray areas because there are only tow paths. The broad one that leads to destruction and the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13 - 14).
2) God’s claim: But, believers will tell you “no”. C.S. Lewis explained it very well: “There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter claimed by Satan.” (Randy Alcorn. Truth . Eugene, Oregon, 20017, p. 102). Satan never plays by the rules of honesty, truth and integrity.
3) Playing with fire?: Can we really trust any of Satan’s “counter claims”? Can we really play with fire and not get burned? Proverbs 6:27 puts it this way: “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (NIV).
4) FROG principle: Proverbs 3:3 - 5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (NIV). Its no mistake that Jesus mentions that their are only two paths---the broad path which leads to death and the narrow path that leads to life” (Matthew 7: 13 - 14). The only way we can truly succeed is the FROG principle ---Fully, Rely, On God!
FAITH
Would you prefer to know every step of a journey? Is there a part of us that is like that?
1) Anticipation: I once had a church member who would sometimes make a list of pros and cons with some of the decisions that she would make. Sometimes her list would be detailed with great precision of anticipation. That is what Paul clarifies as the difference between walking by faith versus sight (II Corinthians 5:7).
2) Ambivalence: Do we swing back and forth between belief and unbelief (Mark 9:24)?
Are we like diamonds in the rough when it comes to our faith? In his book Acres of Diamonds, Jentezen Franklin recalls the story of a Ali Hafed who sold his farm so that he might pursue looking for diamonds. Ironically, the man who bought his property had a thirsty camel who was drinking from a stream on his new property when he discovered a diamond in the rough. It became known as Golconda, the world’s most “magnificent diamond mine”. Ali Hafed left home in search of what had always had all along and didn’t know it---a diamond mind on the farm that he sold. (pp. 10 -11).
1) Seize the opportunities: Don’t be like the boy who shopped for a sport car with his father as a graduation gift. On the day he graduated, his dad gave him a gift. It was a Bible. The son was disgusted and gave the Bible back to his dad. They never spoke again. Years later after his father died, he found that Bible and eventually discovered a check written for the amount of that car. (Jentezen Franklin. Acres of Diamonds. Minneaplois, Minnesota: Chosen, 2020).
2) Diamond ingredients: “Time, extreme pressure and heat” (p. 13).
3) Advice: Jentezen gives his readers this advice, “Dear reader, you are made of dirt. In other words, you’re acreage. And only Jesus knows how to give birth to diamonds of purpose and destiny in your life---no matter what you are facing right now. It will not happen without Him”. (p. 14). We have to trust God and fully rely on God to get where we need to go in unlocking our potential.
PURITY
Why did Paul include this trait in his list of the codes to live by? Paul obviously understood that others will always be watching with a critical eye. Paul was obviously indirectly pointing out how all of these things… an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity all point to our integrity as Christians. All who know us and even those who come after us will know us by the example we set.
What if nobody notices our contribution or example? It will not mean that we lived life in vain. It will mean that we did what was honorable, upright and upheld favorably by God. Consider these reasons ….
1) Truth: Mark Twain once said, “ It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them”. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/honor.htm How could any accomplishment be a genuine accolade of honor if it was not truly deserved?
2) Integrity: Stuart Briscoe tells of being hired by a bank. He was young, new, and just learning the business. One day his boss told him, "If Mr. _______ calls for me, tell him I'm out." Briscoe replied, "Oh, are you planning to go somewhere?" "No, I just don't want to speak to him, so tell him I'm out." "Let me make sure I understand--Do you want me to lie for you?" The boss blew up at him. He was outraged, angered. Stuart prayed and God gave him a flash of insight. "You should be happy, because if I won't lie for you, isn't it safe to assume that I won't lie to you?"
Moody Bible Institute Founder's week, 1986. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/i/integrity.htm
3) Trophies versus honor: As professional golfer Ray Floyd was getting ready to tap in a routine 9-inch putt, he saw the ball move ever so slightly. According to the rule book, if the ball moves in this way the golfer must take a penalty stroke. Yet consider the situation. Floyd was among the leaders in a tournament offering a top prize of $108,000. To acknowledge that the ball had moved could mean he would lose his chance for big money.
Writer David Holahan describes as follows what others might have done: "The athlete ducks his head and flails wildly with his hands, as if being attacked by a killer bee; next, he steps back from the ball, rubbing his eye for a phantom speck of dust, all the while scanning his playing partners and the gallery for any sign that the ball's movement has been detected by others. If the coast is clear, he taps the ball in for his par. Ray Floyd, however, didn't do that. He assessed himself a penalty stroke and wound up with a bogey on the hole. Source Unknown. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/i/integrity.htm How would you have handled it if you were Ray Floyd?
4) Approved by God: Colossians_3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (NRSV).
5) God’s trophy: What if our witness were the only diamond that God was bringing out in our character for others to see?
6) Paul’s advice: Philippians 4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (NRSV).
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
