Go! And Shine Like Diamonds in the Darkness - Malachi 3:17
Malachi 3:17 (NLT): “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.”
Introduction: Diamonds in the Dust
Imagine walking through a muddy field after a storm. The ground is dark, the air thick — yet suddenly, you notice a tiny glimmer catching the sunlight. You stoop down, brush away the dirt, and find something precious: a diamond! Hidden beneath the grime, yet radiating beauty once revealed.
That, my friends, is a picture of what God does with us. He takes us — broken, buried in sin, seemingly worthless — and through His grace in Jesus Christ, He cleanses, refines, and transforms us into something of eternal worth.
Today’s message — “Go! And Shine Like Diamonds in the Darkness” — reminds us that God not only redeems us, but He polishes us to reflect His glory in a dark world.
1. Diamonds: Symbols of God’s Unbreakable Covenant
Ezekiel 28:13 (NLT): “You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone—red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold.”
This verse describes the splendour of Eden and the adornment of the anointed cherub before his fall — but the imagery of precious stones reflects the beauty and value of God’s creation and His covenantal glory.
The Hebrew word for diamond, “yahalom” (???????), comes from the root meaning “to strike hard” or “to be unbreakable.” It symbolises strength and purity, characteristics of God’s covenant — unbreakable, eternal, and unchanging.
Isaiah 54:10 (NLT): “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
God’s promises are like diamonds — imperishable and brilliant. His Word will not fade, His love will not fail, and His covenant stands firm.
Charles Stanley once said, “God’s promises are like stars; the darker the night, the brighter they shine.”
And as I’d add — and the longer they’re held up to the light of Christ, the more brilliant their beauty becomes.
When life pressures you — when trials feel crushing — remember, diamonds are formed under pressure. The same God who redeems your soul uses life’s challenges to shape you into a reflection of His steadfast love.
2. Diamonds: Refined by Pressure and Fire
Zechariah 13:9 (NLT): “I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them.”
Though diamonds are not refined like metals, they form deep in the earth through extreme heat and pressure. Spiritually, the same principle applies — God uses pressure to perfect us.
The Hebrew word for “refine” — tsaraph (?????) — means to smelt, to test, or to prove genuine. God doesn’t crush us to destroy us; He presses us to produce purity.
James 1:2–4 (NLT): “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
The Master Jeweller
A story is told of a jeweller refining gold. A young apprentice asked, “When do you know it’s ready?” The master smiled and replied, “When I can see my reflection in it.”
That’s exactly what God is doing with us. Through trials, through refining, through the heat of life — He is bringing us to reflect the image of Christ.
John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
In suffering, our satisfaction in Christ becomes the clearest. Like diamonds, we shine brightest against the darkness.
Don’t despise the pressure. Embrace the process. Because every trial you face is an opportunity for the radiance of Jesus to shine through you.
3. Diamonds: Chosen and Set for Display
Malachi 3:17 (NLT): “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure.”
In Malachi’s day, many doubted God’s justice. Yet God declared that those who feared Him were His “segullah” (????????) — His treasured possession, His chosen jewels.
We are not worthless stones cast aside — we are selected, cleansed, and set by God to radiate His glory.
1 Peter 2:9 (NLT): “For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.”
Through Christ, we are not only forgiven — we are repositioned: set in the diadem of His kingdom, called to reflect His light in a dark world.
The Queen’s Diamond
Think of the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, cut into nine stones for the British Crown Jewels. Each cut required precision and care. In the same way, God shapes us, piece by piece, for His royal purposes.
Max Lucado wrote, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
And that’s the truth — the Master Jeweller is still working on us, polishing us into reflections of His Son.
Our value is not in our setting — our title, job, or status — but in the One who holds us. The more we are placed in Christ’s hands, the more brilliant we become.
4. Diamonds and the Light of Christ
John 8:12 (NLT): Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
Diamonds only shine when exposed to light. Without light, they are dull stones.
In the same way, apart from Christ, our souls are lifeless. But when we receive Him, His light illuminates us from within, and His Spirit causes us to shine with His glory.
Matthew 5:16 (NLT): “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
We are not meant to keep our light hidden. The Gospel calls us to go and shine — to live as living testimonies of grace, mercy, and redemption.
The Gospel: The Diamond of God’s Love:
At the heart of all this is the Gospel — the most precious truth of all.
Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, bore the pressure of sin upon the cross. He was crushed for our iniquities, pierced for our transgressions, buried in the tomb — and on the third day, He rose again, victorious over death, shining with eternal glory.
Through His death, burial, and resurrection, God offers to transform sinners into saints — from coal to diamond, from darkness to light.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) declares: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Friend, if you have not yet trusted in Jesus as your Saviour and Lord — today is your day. The Master Craftsman wants to take your life, cleanse you, and place you in His crown of righteousness.
Call to Action:
Believers — go and shine like diamonds in the darkness.
When the world grows darker, shine brighter.
When people are fearful, reflect peace.
When sin abounds, radiate grace.
Let the brilliance of Christ in you illuminate every space you walk into.
Benediction:
May the God who formed you in His image and redeemed you through His Son cause you to shine with His glory.
May your life reflect His light, your heart remain steadfast under pressure, and your soul rest secure in the unbreakable covenant of His love.
Go now — and shine like diamonds in the darkness, for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
