Diamonds Aren't Forever

Diamonds are expensive. As well as their natural beauty, their rarity and expense is part of the pleasure of owning one or giving one (I have experience of neither). Yet out in space they are rather common. Meteors are made up of tiny diamonds, and it is thought that some planets, such as PSR J1719-1438 b, may be mainly composed of ultra-dense diamond. Furthermore, there is evidence that it literally rains diamonds on the planet Neptune while on Uranus there are 'diamond storms'. In the unlikely event of humans living in such places, offering one’s wife a diamond ring there would be akin to giving her a drop of rainwater in Lancashire. Diamonds are not, therefore, rare.

That which we currently think valuable is common, and what we think common is valuable. Take wood, for example. Earth is the only known planet on which trees grow and wood can be found. We think it cheap, but it is literally rarer than diamonds. It was on wood that the Prince of Glory died, that one day Adam’s folk may dwell with Him forever, and enjoy the crystal-like waters which flow from His throne.

Rarer than even wood, though, is wisdom, of which the Lord Jesus is the living embodiment:

“But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
It cannot be purchased for gold,
Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx or sapphire.
Neither gold nor crystal can equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for jewellery of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral or quartz,
For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in pure gold. Job 28:12-19, NKJV

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