Hey all you treasure hunters,
Have you ever been diamond hunting? It’s been on my bucket list for some time. Also, many times over the years I would ask Pam what she would like for her birthday, Christmas, or our anniversary. Her typical reply was, “Just get me a big diamond.” So off we went to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. (I’m not quite sure this is exactly what Pam had in mind. She probably thought we would look for it at a jewelry store.) Never-the-less, diamonds here we come. I gave Pam a bucket, a stool, gloves and some garden tools. “There ya go babes let’s get you that big diamond.” We soon discovered diamond hunting is not that easy. We had to travel a ways to get to the diamond field. You don’t just find diamonds any old place. The sun was hot, the ground was hard, and the dirt was, well dirty, and we had to pay eight bucks each to hunt. We got down in the dirt, dug holes, sifted dirt, and scrapped the ground looking for anything shinny. We found a few pebbles, some gravel, and lots of dirt. After about three hours we were done, we quit.
This experience reminded me of what Jesus said,” “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Mt 13:45-46.
I believe God is hunting for some precious gems, diamonds in the rough you might say, or a pearl of great price. He came a great distance to find it. He left heaven to get down in the dirt with us.
As I thought about this adventure, I noticed some similarities of diamond hunting and the Kingdom of Heaven. God’s pursuit of the souls of men. God is looking for a treasure, a thing of beauty, something of great value. In God’s case, valuable enough to give everything he had, even His own blood, His life to pay for it. It’s not an easy task it requires commitment, in His case it’s important enough and precious enough for Him, that it means total commitment. He had to get down in the dirt with us, get dirty to recover the precious jewel, the soul of man. One huge difference He did not quit, He never will. You are precious, a great treasure to us and God.
At Celebrate Recovery we are looking for precious gems. Many times it requires digging through the barren looking soil of a broken hopeless life to discover a beautiful perfect priceless gem. Thanks for your prayers and support as we search.
Let Your Kingdom Come,
Jim & Pam