A Story

The Most Precious of All the Earth

Christopher Kolker MD

The story goes something like this:

As God contemplates His creation, He asks three angels to bring back the one thing that represents the most beautiful part of His creation. The angels immediately swoop down to Earth and search for that one thing that showcases the perfection of His work. They go in three different directions, scouring the globe to find it. After searching high and low, each one returns with what they believe embodies beauty.

When they return to Heaven, God asks them what they found. Two of the angels are eager to go first, while one seems to hesitate a bit.

The first angel can hardly contain his excitement. Smiling, he proclaims, “I brought you a perfect sphere of pure gold. Molded by volcanoes, it is perfectly round and completely pure. It is a reminder of your radiance throughout the universe.” Dramatically, he opens his clasped hands to reveal the smooth and shiny gold ball.

But God seems unimpressed.

The second angel steps forward, now a little wary but still confident. “I brought the largest diamond in the world,” he crows. “Forged by the pressure of the earth, it is absolutely without flaw and sparkles in the light. It reminds us of your perfection. It also reminds mankind that trials and tribulations forge true spiritual formation.”

But God is little moved. He knows of the things His own hand created.

The third angel meekly comes forward, holding a tiny wooden box. Once he opens the box, he reveals a tiny vial inside. The third angel begins softly, “Inside the vial is a tear. It is a tear of a truly repentant sinner who asks for forgiveness so that he may humbly worship and serve the Lord.”

God responds, “This truly is the most precious thing in all the world. I so loved the world that I gave my only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Me shall not perish but have eternal life.”

If you think you are worthless, you are wrong. His son died for you, and He would have died only for you if that was what was needed. You are more precious to Him than anything and everything else in Creation.

God desires to be in fellowship with you. All it takes is a humble and repentant heart.