I read a little parable in a book written by Sadhu Sundar Singh, a Sikh, who had an encounter with Jesus Christ:

“A hunter, who while wandering in the jungle, picked up some pretty stones on the bank of a stream. Unaware of their value, he used them one by one in his sling, to shoot at the birds seated on the trees near the river. And so, one by one they fell into the water and were lost. With one still in his hand, he returned to the city, and as he passed along the bazaar a jeweller caught sight of it, and told the silly fellow that it was a valuable diamond for which he could get thousands of rupees!!!

When he heard this he began to bewail himself and say, “Woe is me! I didn’t know their value, and have been using many of these diamonds to shoot at birds by the riverside, and they have fallen into the river and are lost, otherwise I should have been a millionaire. Still I have saved this one, and that is something gained.”

Every day is like a precious diamond, and though many priceless days have been wasted in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, and are for ever sunk in the depths of the past, we must awake to the value of what remains, and bringing it into the best possible use, gather for yourself spiritual riches.

Sometimes when I look at my life, I have just way too many things going on, that I can just go with the flow and be caught up with the glamour of the world and step by step drift away from God. It has happened sometimes in my life, and I dread that with every beat of my heart.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed…” 2 Timothy 2:15

The apostle Paul uses the word ‘diligent’ and other synonyms of the word ‘diligence’ many times, in his letters to the churches. Personally speaking, I have never thought that my walk with God needs ‘diligence’. Faithfulness… YES. Truthfulness…. YES…. but Diligence??? As in ‘Hard work’???  I can be a diligent worker at office…. Or even a diligent home maker. But a diligent Child of God???!!!

Well, YES!!! If the duties of the world need diligence, How much more the duties pertaining to the LIVING GOD???!!! Diligence to spend Time with God, Diligence to walk a pure Life in His eyes, Diligence to serve others in Christ’s Love, and Diligence to love God with all our Heart, Soul and Mind.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55:6

Whether we like it or not, there is going to come a time when people will call out to God, but He will NOT be found. That’s why the bible says, Seek the Lord ‘while’ He maybe found… and ‘while’ He is near. Time is ticking away. So it is high time for us to begin to get diligent in our walk with God.

You and I may have thrown away those precious stones like the foolish hunter, but there is still something left… Every day is precious…. Every hour matters. God’s eye is on YOU. Where is yours?

As we step into this New Year, I pray that our commitment will be to get diligent in our walk with God. Wish you all a blessed 2012 as you begin to see the preciousness of TIME and the blessedness of DILIGENCE!!!

Happy New Year to all!!!!