Welcome to Joni and Friends. I’m your host, Joni Eareckson Tada.
My friend, Careen, walked into my office the other day and she was wearing around her neck this beautiful gemstone necklace. It really caught my attention. It was made of lovely gold and amber stones, and it was like this necklace was made for Careen. I mean, it was like it was designed for her rich, auburn hair and green eyes. I wish I could describe how that amber-toned necklace gracing her throat really made her eyes and her hair snap. It was just like it was made for her.
Now, I’m sorry for talking like a jeweler here, but bear with me guys, because there’s a point to this story. Because that necklace on Careen which made her look so beautiful, really highlighted her hair and eyes, was a perfect illustration of Ephesians 1:12 where it says, “In him we were chosen… in order that we… might be for the praise of his glory.” Now hold on, I know what you’re thinking: what in the world does that verse have to do with Careen and her necklace? Well, let me explain...
God’s eternal purpose for choosing you for his kingdom is that you might be to the praise of the glory of Christ. God’s crowning purpose is to secure for his Son a grand course of eternal worshippers who will magnify, who will highlight, who will forever showcase the awesome attributes of his Son. It even says in Zechariah that “God’s people will sparkle like jewels in His crown. How attractive and beautiful God’s people will be.”
Friend, you are the sparkling, you are the flashing and iridescent jewel which will glorify Jesus. There’s something about you and the way you were made that will bring ultimate glory to your Savior. Just like that necklace highlighted Careen’s hair and eyes, you are going to glorify Jesus! Make him look so bright and beautiful; magnify him in the eyes of others. And in the meantime, the earth is one big gemstone mine, one big amber, a big diamond mine in which you and I are being chiseled out from the dirt. And we are being cleaned and polished and fitted for a King’s crown. We are the warm and brilliant gift that the Father is fashioning for his Son. And just like I said, how that necklace was made for Careen, you were made for Jesus. You have been chosen to glorify him, to praise him, to be a part of his eternal course of worshippers.
Now, friend, if this is our destiny in heaven, if this is the reason why God has chosen us, then we’ve got a lot to do to get ready while we’re down here on earth. This is the time to yield to God’s chisel, to surrender to his will… with faith refined and our souls scrubbed clean of sin, now is the time where we can lend everything we are, submitting to his plan and purpose in order that we might be perfectly fitted as a jewel… as a gift… in order that we might be to the praise of his glory. So, friend, get ready to be given on the Coronation Day when Jesus is crowned King of Kings… oh, to be a jewel in that crown… to be one of those amber stones, to be made, to be designed for his pleasure.
Friend, thanks so much for these special few minutes we’ve been able to share together. And because this program is called Joni and Friends, please know that I would love to hear from you. So drop me a line on Joni’s Corner, or you can always contact us at P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376.
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