Issue 950 – Jewelled Ice – January 5, 2023
Recently, I showed pictures of the ice floes on the shores of the Fraser River. I have seen similar scenes when the breakup comes up north, and the ice stacks up on the shores.
The ice can be brilliant white or dirty white, covered in dirt and debris. In translucent areas, it can also be varying shades of blue, green or clear like glass.
When the sun hits them at the right angle, they look like giant tourmalines, rubies and diamonds. Each would be worth a king’s ransom if they were genuine stones.
People would kill to own them. They would be on display in museums or hidden away in the vaults of the uber-wealthy. People from around the globe would queue up to see them.
Of course, these are not real gems. Over a relatively short time, Spring weather would melt them back into water.
That doesn’t happen to the real gems.
The world diamond market is controlled by an influential cartel that limits the quantity and quality of stones available on the market. They have vaults full of diamonds, held for suitable market conditions. Diamonds are a reasonably common commodity. The value of the stones has been hyped for generations with the maxims “Diamonds are Forever” and “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” We are told that a starter engagement ring should cost the groom three months’ salary.
Many so-called “semi-precious stones” are far more scarce and beautiful than diamonds. Because of their scarcity, they should be worth far more than diamonds. The problem with those stones is that many are found in only one location in the world and are not available in sufficient quantity to feed the needs of a giant stone marketing cartel.
Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious/semi-precious stones are not forever. They hold value only on this planet. The biggest and best quality stones have no worth in heaven or hell. We cannot take them with us.
People will kill, steal, covert and mortgage their future to own these pretty pebbles. Our priorities get all mixed up. These shiny stones can please the eye for a few years and maybe even gives us status, but they can only bring short-term happiness.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your prize is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26
Even if the colourful floes had been real gems and I could take them home, they would be worthless to me in the long run.
The is nothing inherently evil in jewels or precious metals. There is no sin in appreciating their beauty. It becomes a problem when they cause us to sin by taking our eyes off of God.
Everything we have, desire, covet, scheme for, 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?
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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