In this article we will seek to answer the five "W's" of diamonds, hoping to shed some light on this most interesting topic that will also be a blessing.

WHO? Diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable or unchangeable. It was probably so named because of its enduring quality of hardness. According to the scale used to rate the hardness of minerals, known as the Mohs scale developed by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, the diamond is given the highest rating of 10 because it cannot be scratched. It is the hardest of all. Rubies and sapphires are rated 9 on the Mohs scale, but are 140 times more easily scratched than diamonds.

Only about 20% of the 8,000 kg of diamonds produced per year are of gem quality, yet this accounts for about 75% of the value of the diamond market. The other 80% of the diamonds are used for industrial purposes, such as cutting, grinding, drilling, polishing, etc. Henry Ford discovered the usefulness of diamonds in the auto industry, making it the principle buyer of industrial diamonds. Of course we all know about phonograph needles, and even Jeremiah speaks of writing "with the point of a diamond" (Jeremiah 17:1).

Over the years just a few diamonds have become well known because of their great size, clarity and value. The largest ever found, known as the Cullinan was 3,106 carats as a rough diamond, and was cut into nine large gems and 96 smaller ones, some of which are now part of the British crown jewels. The biggest of these is still 530.20 carats, and is known as the "Star of Africa." (A carat is 0.2 grams or 0.007 oz.)

The largest flawless diamond believed to exist is also the most recently discovered in 1984. This beauty was auctioned in New York in 1988 and was the largest diamond ever offered to the public. Beginning as a rough diamond of 890 carats, this gem was three years in the process of being cut into the "Incomparable" of 407.48 carats and 14 other jewels.

Who could these few famous diamonds, known for their hardness, brilliance and worth represent? As we look at the pages of Scripture and of history, are there not those few men and women of God who have been so greatly used of Him to show forth His glory, such as the apostle Paul, and others before and since him? These few seem to be giants among the people of God, the majority of which find usefulness and service to their Lord in comparative obscurity.

It should probably be said that there are also synthetic, man-made diamonds, but these cannot measure up to the qualities of a gem of God's making. These may speak to us of mere professors of Christianity that have no real divine life or light.

WHAT? Diamond deposits appear to have been formed by explosive volcanism deep in the earth, about 90-155 miles beneath the surface, at temperatures between 1630-2500 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures of 50-80 kilobars (370-600 tons of force per square inch). There are many theories as to how this process takes place, but some scientists believe that the carbon the only element found in diamonds, came from the earth's surface, being deposited to such depths by upheavals in the earth's crust as occurred during the flood. Then when subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the carbon is compressed into diamonds, which have a high density due to the carbon atoms being so tightly packed together.

Diamonds are driven to the earth's surface in host rocks known as kimberlite and lamproite along volcanic shafts or fractures known as pipes. According to an article by geologist Andrew A. Snelling that appeared in the Dec.'93-Feb.'94 issue of Creation magazine, and also a recent newspaper article by William J. Broad of the New York Times, the diamond's journey from deep in the earth to the surface is a rapid ascent at speeds of 6 to 19 mph, or less than 24 hours for the entire trip! Evidence suggests that it is an explosive process that causes diamonds to erupt on or near the earth's surface.

Snelling says, "Many people kind it hard to conceive of a geological process like that occurring so rapidly, particularly as we have been constantly indoctrinated with the slow and gradual uniformitarian philosophy." But these molten blobs of magna (kimberlite) contain enough carbon dioxide gas and water (superheated to steam) confined under pressure, "much like soda in a corked bottle, ready to explosively exploit any weaknesses in the rocks above them,' as they make their way to the earth's surface from depths of up to 155 miles in a matter of hours, not days, weeks or years.

The salvation of a soul also takes place quickly. Though one may have been under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit for a long time, he is born again the moment he trusts Christ as Saviour. And the believer's final journey to glory will take place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."

WHEN did all this occur? Not millions or billions of years ago as stated by the popular theory of our day. The evidence for the rapid formation of diamond deposits supports the Biblical explanation and time frame. Most of the diamond deposits in today's kimberlite pipes were, according to Snelling, "undoubtedly deposited by the flood" of Noah's day, some 4500-5000 years ago.

WHERE are diamonds found? Most come from places like India, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Siberia and northwest Canada where the latest discovery of diamonds was made in 1991. Compared to the large area of the earth's surface, diamond deposits are found in only a few isolated and restricted locations.

The mining process is very difficult. Up to 150 million kg of sand must be moved to find a mere 1 kg of diamond or as much as 8 million kg of rock must be processed with expensive equipment to find just 1 kg of diamond.

When we think of the great number of people in the world, is it not true that only few are saved, few are born again believers transformed from the blackness of sin into a glorious new diamond? See Matthew 7:14; 22:14; Luke 13:23-28; 1 Peter 3:20. And think of the great work and cost involved at Calvary for the redemption of a soul (Matthew 13:44-46; Psalm 49:6-8).

WHY did God make diamonds? I agree with the suggestion made by the book Gems Tell Their Secrets that God made them to give us a picture of the greatest glory, splendor, purity and beauty possible as found in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. In Revelation 4:1-3, the apostle John saw the Lord on the throne in heaven, and says, " He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone." John had no words to describe the glorious majesty of Christ other than jasper (diamond). And it is linked with the sardine (ruby) which because of its blood-red color signifies the value of Christ's blood.

F.W. Grant says in the Numerical Bible, "gems are pictures to us of God in His various attributes, so far as can be displayed to us…the jewels are the lights of Him who is the Father of lights, in the perfect ray of light itself too bright for us, but tempered in a way which brings out glories that would otherwise be hidden…. It is of this revelation of God in Christ that the jasper and sardine speak…. The sardine stone reminds us of the depths to which He descended by its ruddy hue, and thus, in the combination of the jasper, or diamond, and the sardine stone, we have God manifest as nowhere else…for what other manifestation have we of God than that which we have seen in Christ?"

Just as diamonds portray the beauty and glory of Christ to us, so we who are made "diamonds" by faith in Christ as Saviour are left here on earth to portray Christ to the world. May these lines serve to awaken our interest in funding valuable souls and letting our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

—Tim Johnson