A Diamond Called Hope
Have you heard of the Hope Diamond? It is a described as the most perfect blue diamond in the world. It is one of the most valuable gems on the face of the planet, and worth $250 million. It has an amazing history, having passed from King Louis of France to Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great to King George of England, and ultimately to various wealthy people. Yet, despite its enormous value, one of the eccentric owners of this rare blue diamond would often strap it to her pet dog's collar. There are also stories that she would frequently misplace it at parties, and then make a children's game out of "Finding the Hope."
The Hope Diamond ended up with the New York diamond merchant Harry Winston, who ultimately donated it to the Smithsonian Museum. Today, it sits guarded behind bulletproof glass. By the way, Winston sent the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian through the U.S. Mail in a plain brown paper bag! Imagine something worth $250 million being sent though mail in a brown paper bag. (This is why men should never wrap gifts.)
Imagine the Hope Diamond on a dog's collar or in a paper bag! Something so valuable, yet so unappreciated. It reminds me of the most precious gift that God has given to us-something we may not appreciate. I am speaking of our salvation. God has saved us, is saving us, and will save us from future judgment. No other gift comes close to that.
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I think that, far too often, we take the gift of personal salvation for granted. The Bible calls it "so great a salvation!" When we believe in Jesus Christ and turn from our sins, this glorious gift (worth far, far more than the Hope Diamond) becomes ours. The Bible says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8).
Let's not take God's salvation for granted today.
