Masterpiece

Masterpiece. Have you ever wished you were cleaning out your house and found something that looked like trash only to find out it was worth millions?  That happened to a ninety year old French woman a few weeks ago. Getting ready to move, the old Renaissance painting of Jesus Hanging in her hallway was heading to the dump if it wasn’t appraised within the week before the move. The appraiser thought it was worth some money, but when it sold for $26.8 million, it was a much greater treasure than he even imagined.

Imagine having that treasure sitting in your house for decades, thinking it was nothing more than a flea market find, only to find out at the end of your life it was worth millions?  It made me wonder what her life would have been like if she knew about that painting fifty years ago. Would she have sold it and spent the rest of her years living in the lap of luxury on the French Riviera?  Or would she have used the money to help those in need or started a shelter for abandoned children?  We’ll never know!

It reminded me of the story of the man who found a treasure and sold everything he had to get it. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” - Matthew 13:44.

Or what about the merchant that found the pearl. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” - Matthew 13:45-46.

When we finally realize the treasure that is available to us when we put our faith in Christ, are we willing to give everything else away to possess what He makes available to us? When we accept Him as our Savior, we become His masterpiece.  Isn’t that a wonderful trade-off?

Have a great day and God bless.