You’ve heard before that you are a diamond in the rough, but have you ever thought that you could be a diamond?

The Swiss company, Algordanza, has developed a process to convert the ashes of someone who has passed away into a diamond of up to 1 carat in just 6 to 8 weeks for a price of between $4,500 to $16,700. (SOURCE)

Today’s DM, Direct Message from God, is from the letter that Jesus wrote to the church in Smyrna.

8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:8-11

This letter features Extreme Contrasts:

  • Jesus introduces Himself as the First and the Last.
  • He was dead and He came back to life.
  • Jesus says this church was facing death, but they will get a crown of life.
  • They seemed poor but they were rich.

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Problems and pain have a way of polishing, purifying, and perfecting you.

The Smyrna Church had serious problems including political and marketplace oppression, but they were praised by Jesus.

What does it take to turn Dust into Diamonds?

Tension. (Rev. 2:9)

Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity annual report on the persecution of Christians found that as many as 90,000 Christians — or one Christian every six minutes —were killed because of their faith in 2016! (SOURCE)

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Jesus knows. Jesus sees. Jesus cares about what you’re going through. You won’t face any problem that takes God by surprise.

God cares a lot more about growing your character than making you comfortable. God’s goal for your life is to make you holy, not to just make you happy.

Suffering is a school, every trial is a teacher, and every experience is an education.

Time. (Rev. 2:10a)

Diamonds take a long time to form naturally.

In this letter, Jesus promises that suffering won’t last forever. There’s a limit of 10 days. Trials are temporary. One day, Jesus promises their will be no more crying, pain, or sickness.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:4

There aren’t any shortcuts on the road to spiritual maturity.

Tenacity. (Rev. 2:10b)

Another way to measure the value of a diamond is its strength. Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral on earth with a Mohs Scale value of 10. As you are being changed, you are getting stronger.

Diamonds are just chunks of coal that didn’t give up.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 5:3

We can face problems with strength know because of what we know. Sometimes you feel it and you know it. But when you’re going through problems, you just know it, even when you can’t feel it. What do we know about our problems?

  1.  God is bigger than any problem you face.
  2.  God can use any problem to help you grow.
  3.  Problems can make us stronger.
  4.  God can bring good even out of bad situations and circumstances.

When you KNOW these things, it changes your whole perspective and attitude. The secret is not focusing on your problems but focusing on God’s promises.

Tractability.

Yield to the shaping hands of Jesus and allow Him to shape you.

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Promise to the church in Smyrna. (Rev. 2:11)

If you are born once, you will die twice. If you are born twice, you only die once!