In our life we begin as a rough stone, without shape, useless and worthless. Some stones will be taken by the artist to his studio where he will start shaping them, and working on them, giving them ten thousand blows with the hammer and chisel, and polishing them for many days.  Finally there are pieces of art and images of important people appear in the rough stones.

People will admire the beautiful images. The other stones that the artist passed by will remain in the field and gather moss. Their life is peaceful, no hammer blows, no polishing.

Which one of these stones do you want to be—a stone on the artist’s bench, or the one gathering moss?

Who is the artist? Jesus; He is the Master artist. He puts His own image on the stones, but it takes time and effort. Naturally, people are in the image of Satan—selfish, covetous, jealous, envious, dishonest, impatient, world-loving and pleasure-loving. With these characteristics we are born into this world. What is the difference in the value of these stones? The rough stones in the field have no value; farmers usually throw them out.

We read in Isaiah, “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. All nations before Him are as nothing: and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.” Isaiah 40:15, 17

But, the stones which contain the image of Jesus are very precious. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of sliver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:16–17

These stones God will keep for eternity, and the other stones will be cast into the lake of fire. Even many of the angels in heaven decided not to serve God anymore, and lived their own lives instead. These angels became demons and they also will be cast into the lake of fire. But, the precious stones like Enoch, and Elijah, God will save for eternity. Also in the last days, there will be 144,000 precious stones, who will have eternal life.

What is special about these precious stones that God saves? “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5. All others lived a wasted life, with no value or good purpose. Many children will also be lost, because their parents did not take time to teach them of Jesus.

Sister White writes that the first three years in a child’s life are the most important years to teach them. “The Foundation is Laid in the First Three Years. Mothers, be sure that you properly discipline your children during the first three years of their lives. Do not allow them to form their wishes and desires. The mother must be mind for her child. The first three years is the time in which to bend the tiny twig. Mothers should understand the importance attaching to this period. It is then that the foundation is laid.

“If these first lessons have been defective, as they very often are, for Christ’s sake, for the sake of your children’s future and eternal good, seek to repair the wrong you have done. If you have waited until your children were three years old to begin to teach them self-control and obedience, seek to do it now, even though it will be much harder.” –Child Guidance, p. 194

Many parents neglect the first years in their children’s lives; in the later years, children will start planning their own lives, and parents have lost the opportunity to bring their children to salvation. Children will one day curse their parents for neglecting to teach them to serve God in their early years, and they become selfish from the example of their parents.

Many professing Christians are like the fig tree, full of leaves but no fruit in it. “Now in the morning as He returned into the city, He was hungered. And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!” Matthew 21:18–20

Another servant was also cast out. “And He said unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.” Luke 16:1–2. All our goods and money belong to God, and we must give an account to God as to how we spend it.

Another neglected duty we find in Matthew 20:3, “And He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.” Many professing Christians will be lost in the end by not fulfilling their duty faithfully. They will hear the terrible words—too late. Now they want their salvation as the people in the time of Noah—millions wanted to enter into the ark, but it was too late, the door was closed.

Professing Christians waste their time, their money, and their opportunities. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:29, “The time is short.” In Jeremiah 8:20 we read, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” We read in Mark 13:33, 26, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.”

“It is the work that we do or do not that tells with tremendous power upon our lives and destinies. God requires us to improve every opportunity for usefulness that is offered us. Neglect to do this is perilous to our spiritual growth. We have a great work to do. Let us not pass in idleness the precious hours that God has given us in which to perfect characters for heaven. We must not be inactive or slothful in this work, for we have not a moment to spend without a purpose or object.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 540

“Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.

“The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 342

A girl was working very hard late at night. Someone asked her why she worked so hard, and she said, “My candle is almost gone, and I haven’t got another.” Is this not our life? We have only one life, and when it is gone, we have no more time, no more opportunity.

Judas lived a wasted life. He could have continued with the other disciples, he could have been saved, and have eternal life, but he wasted it all.

Many will make wrong decisions because of selfishness, just like Judas. God hates selfishness. Sister White writes that selfishness is a principle of Satan (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 176).

“I saw that the Israel of God must arise and renew their strength in God by renewing and keeping their covenant with Him. Covetousness, selfishness, love of money, and love of the world, are all through the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. These evils are destroying the spirit of sacrifice among God’s people. Those that have this covetousness in their hearts are not aware of it. It has gained upon them imperceptibly, and unless it is rooted out, their destruction will be as sure as was Achan’s. Many have taken the sacrifice from God’s altar. They love the world, love its gain and increase, and, unless there is an entire change in them, they will perish with the world. God has lent them means; it is not their own,

but God has made them His stewards. And because of this, they call it their own and hoard it up. But, oh, how quick, when the prospering hand is removed from them, it is all snatched away in a moment!” –Ibid., vol. 1, p. 140

A selfish person will not be in heaven. Mismanaging money or time will close heaven to us. In the world, we have seven billion people, and they all could be saved. There are two and a half billion Christians in the world; they all could be saved. But, many are making wrong decisions in life, and are lost eternally.

We sing in a hymn, “Work for the night is coming; Work through the morning hours; Work while the dew is sparkling; Work ‘mid springing flowers; Work while the day grow brighter, Under the glowing sun; Work for the night is coming, When man’s work is done.”

Be not an idle and useless stone in the field, but be a stone in the spiritual building of God, where Jesus is the cornerstone, fulfilling the purpose of life. Amen.

Timo Martin