|
DIAMONDS ON OUR DOORSTEP from your Evangelism Team
Toni Sample
A Diamond is carbon atoms in a rigid lattice and can be contaminated by impurities. Diamonds are brought to life under conditions of pressure and to the surface by volcanic eruptions. Diamonds are transparent, come in all colors and are sought after as valuable jewels.
Much of what defines diamonds also defines man. Many of us are rigid in our thoughts and beliefs. We can be contaminated by impurities. Our life is defined by moments of pressure and eruption which can bring us to God or turn us on a wrong path. We are transparent and come in many colors. We are sought after as valuable jewels by God, our Creator.
I am pleased to be counted among the group here at Westminster Presbyterian who devote some of their time and energy to prison ministry. This ministry delivers the message of hope. The hope that only God can give. The hope of forgiveness. The hope of life with Him even in a desolate, confining environment. Most of the young lives of these prisoners were lives involving pressure and eruptions. These conditions were much too unpleasant or violent for an impressionable young person. Some of their parents loved them and still do while others were born to parents who didn’t want the burden or responsibility of parenthood and their lives reflected that. The lives of these prisoners became contaminated and the choices they made were influenced by that contamination. Many of them have had few advantages in life. Many were not brought up in a Christian home or church. Most are hearing the ‘Good News’ for the first time in their lives. Even if they had heard the message before, they didn’t know what it meant and they didn’t know how to follow the example that Jesus had set for all of us. These are people who God created, just like you and me. These are people who may have done despicable and reprehensible things by our way of measuring. These are people who need to be loved and forgiven. God does that, when they ask. Our presence assures them of His love and encourages them to welcome Him into their lives and to live in His light.
Whenever I get too comfortable with who I am, I just remember where a Diamond comes from. Black coal. I remember that only God changed me from that dirty element into someone with a clean heart. He did that when I asked Him to be a part of my life, forever, and when He washed away MY sin with HIS blood. Jesus loves everyone. It matters little to Jesus how you live, what you have done or what kind of family you come from. He loves YOU. For those of us who know that, trust that and believe that -- like myself -- it’s a joy to be a part of spreading that message to those who have, many times, lost hope.
| 
