We all know death comes to everyone at some time. Christians also realize there is a judgement to face.
Hebrews 9:27 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Malachi 3:16-18 (KJV) 16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
We find vary little concerning what happens after death. We even can be confused about when the ‘big’ Judgement day is and what it will be like. We are given a little insight in Luke 16 with the story given by our Lord concerning the rich man and Lazarus. I do not want to focus on judgement in that sense today. I want to focus upon our personal relationship with God today such that IF we were to be called to heaven, would we be chosen to enter?
I. Malachi spoke of God making up His Jewels.
a. God observes all the gracious words that proceed out of the mouths of his people;
b. He keeps an account of them: A book of remembrance was written before him.
c. God remembers the services of his people, that, in the review of them, he may say, Well done; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
d. He promises them a share in his glory hereafter (Mal. 3:17): They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. When God utterly cuts off the Jewish church and nation for their infidelity, the remnant among them, that believed his word, and, having waited for the consolation of Israel, welcome him when he comes, shall be admitted into the Christian church, and shall become a peculiar people to God; God will take care of them, that they perish not with those that believe not; but that they be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger against that nation. They shall be my segullah—my peculiar treasure (it is the word used, Exod. 19:5), in the day when I make or do what I have said and designed to do; so some read it. These pious ones shall have all the glorious privileges of God’s Israel appropriated to them and centering in them; they shall now be his peculiar treasure, when the rest are rejected; they shall now be the vessels of mercy and honour, when the rest are made vessels of wrath and dishonour, vessels in which is no pleasure. This may be applied to all the faithful people of God, and the distinction he will put between t 26c3 hem and others in the great day. Note, [1.] The saints are God’s jewels; they are highly esteemed by him and are dear to him; they are comely with the comeliness that he puts upon them, and he is pleased to glory in them; they are a royal diadem in his hand, Isa. 62:3. He looks upon them as his own proper goods, his choice goods, his treasure, laid up in his cabinet, and the furniture of his closet, Ps. 135:4. The rest of the world is but lumber, in comparison with them. [2.] There is a day coming when God will make up his jewels. They shall be gathered up out of the dirt into which they are now thrown, and gathered together from all places to which they are now scattered; he shall send forth his angels to gather his elect, who are his jewels, from the four winds of heaven (Matt. 24:31), to gather his jewels into his jewel-house, as the wheat from several fields into the barn. All the saints will then be gathered to Christ, and none but saints, and saints made perfect; then God’s jewels will be made up, as stones into a crown, as stars into a constellation. [3.] Those who now own God for theirs, he will then own for his, will publicly confess them before angels and men: “They shall be mine; their sanctification shall be completed, and so they shall be perfectly and entirely mine, without any remaining interests of the world and the flesh.” Their relation to God shall be acknowledged, and his property in them. He will separate them from those that are not his, and give them their portion with those that are his; for to them it shall be said, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
e. They will be distinguished from the children of this world (Mal. 3:18): “Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between sinners and saints, between those that serve God and make conscience of their duty to him and those that serve him not, but put contempt upon his service.
II. What is the Treasured Possessions?
a. Those added to Christ’s church (Acts 2)
b. Those who live faithfully until death (Rev. 2:10)
i. Living FAITHFULLY requires specific characteristics; behaviors.
III. Treasured jewels
a. Holy Garments for Aaron. Exodus 28:15-21 15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. 16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
i. God had the best of jewels used to remind Him of his promise to the father of Israel; the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
ii. Theses stones represented the jewels God saved from all men of the world. These were His.
b. God promised Abraham all nations would be blessed through him and Gentile children would be adopted into the line of Abraham. We represent one or more of these stones as adopted children into the Kingdom of God.
IV. How to become a treasured jewel.
a. Hear the word of God. (word=Christ; his teachings)
b. Believe Christ is the living Son of God.
c. Confess his name before men. (Matt 16:13-19)
d. Humbly obey His command to be baptized washing away your sins. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6)
e. Doeth the Will of God.
i. Matt. 7:21-23
ii. John 14:15
iii. Matt 24:35-42. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
CONCLUSION.
‘When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels’, by Hank Williams Sr.
The ceremony was over
A lad stood alone in tears
For he had just said goodbye
To the one he had loved through the years
He stood all alone with his head bowed down
As though his heart would break
Then the parson came over and took his hand
And to him these words he did say
When God comes and gathers His jewels
All His treasures of diamonds and gold
You'll meet her up there, up in Heaven so fair
When God comes and gathers His jewels
Each night when the pale moon is shining
You can see this lad all alone
With his eyes lifted towards Heaven
He's repeating these words he was told
When God comes and gathers His jewels
All His treasures of diamonds and gold
I'll meet you up there, up in Heaven so fair
When God comes and gathers His jewels
Songwriters: Hank Williams Sr.
When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
Are you a jewel God will gather when Christ comes again?
