|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 480 May 3, 2002 Floating Diamonds The weather has been a little cooler than the seasonal norm, but spring is here to stay. The birds are nesting heavily and the pussy willows started popping out earlier in the week. Other than a few small spots, the ice is finally off the lake. As I walked yesterday, small floes of ice floated around in various spots. They ranged in size from slightly bigger than a baseball to that of small wastebaskets. The flows were made up of crystal clear ice, faceted like rough diamonds. In fact when the sun hit them, that’s exactly what they looked like to me, floating diamonds. Real diamonds the size of those little ice burgs would be valued in the millions of dollars. People would have killed to have them or traded everything they owned to get their hands on them. The diamonds would have ended up in museums and in the hands of the world’s wealthiest collectors. People from the world over would come to see them. In a few days or less these floating diamonds would be melted. They would just be a part of the lake, indistinguishable from the rest of the water. Ultimately, despite the claim of diamond marketing coops that "Diamonds are forever", real diamonds will have no value. As cliché as it sounds we can’t take them with us. In both heaven and hell the diamonds will be of no value to us there. We will kill, covet, and mortgage our lives and souls for something that looks pretty and conveys status but which we can keep for a few years at best. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV Even if the ice burgs had been real diamonds, and I had collected them all, I would have gained nothing for eternity. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26 NIV Everything we have, everything we desire, everything we covet, everything we scheme for, and hate for and go to war for is meaningless if we don’t know Christ. One soul coming to know Jesus is worth more in the eternal realm than all the wealth of the world combined. Where is your heart? Is it in things or is it invested in eternity? God bless. Kevin If you want to know more about something more valuable than a lake full of basketball sized diamonds, email me and I’ll share some Bible verses that explain why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important and a prayer that will make it possible. Or simply begin the relationship by saying a prayer along the lines of: Dear God: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer let me know and I will direct you to some free non-denominational resources that will help you grow in that newfound relationship. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your prayer concerns and praise reports email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca If you enjoy this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/lists/ or email me at corbin_writer@shaw.ca Archived issues of Gleanings From The Word can be found on our web site http://gleanings.jesusanswers.com To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca or write us at Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8
© 2002 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministries International All Rights Reserved
SUBSCRIBE TO GLEANINGS FOR FREE
|
||||