A diamond in the rough

One spring, sometime before the Civil War, a boy in search of work came to Worthy Taylor’s prosperous Ohio farm. The farmer knew nothing much about the boy except that his name was Jim, but he gave him a job anyway. Jim spent the summer cutting stovewood, bringing in the cows and making himself generally useful. He ate in the kitchen and slept in the haymow.

Before the summer was over, Jim had fallen in love with Taylor’s daughter. When the farmer refused to let him marry her -- telling him bluntly that he had no money, no name and very poor prospects -- Jim put his belongings in his old carpet bag and disappeared.

Thirty-five years passed before Taylor one day pulled down his barn to make way for a new one. On one of the rafters above the haymow, he discovered that Jim had carved his full name -- James A. Garfield. He was then President of the United States. When Jesus looked at Simon Peter, He saw a fiery impulsive person. He made promises that he could not keep and began activities that he could not finish! He thought he could walk on the water to meet Jesus without any problems (Matthew 14:30). When they captured Jesus, Peter cut off Malchus’ ear (John 18:10). Peter did not stop to ask, “Is this what Jesus wants?” Peter even went so far as to deny Jesus after boasting that he would die before he would deny the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75). However, in spite of all these weaknesses, Jesus could see Peter as a diamond in the rough, and after Christ’s resurrection, He called upon Peter to love Him and tend His sheep (John 21:15-17). From this time forward, Peter lived and died for Jesus (John 21:18-19).

Jesus offers salvation to all that will come and obey Him. Some have gone so deeply in sin that they feel that He will not accept them, but to those that will believe in Jesus, will repent of all their sins, confess Him to be Christ and put Him on in baptism to walk in newness of life, He considers them a diamond in the rough. All sins are forgiven and the opportunity is given to live a dedicated life for the Lord. No, we may never become a president, but we can become something even greater -- a Christian!

Also, when we go astray as a Christian, we may be tempted to give up, feeling that the Lord has given up on us, but this is not true. It was Jesus that gave the parable of the prodigal son that left his father for a sinful life, but returned confessing his sins, repenting and asking his father for forgiveness. The same forgiveness awaits those who are away from the Lord today, if they will return with the same attitude! As you make your decision to respond, remember that Christ sees you as a diamond in the rough and awaits the opportunity to forgive your sins if you will obey Him.

Kyle Campbell