The diamonds were as beautiful as I remembered.
Thousands of years in the making, they sparkled beneath the soft glow of the jeweler’s lamp. The rings, bracelet, and brooch had all belonged to my parents, but I was thinking of selling them.
The appraiser mapped marks on a series of plots as he studied each gem’s unique characteristics. With squiggles covering the plots, I was confident my diamonds were as priceless as the people who had worn them.
But the diamonds weren’t perfect or priceless; they had flaws. Interior imperfections and exterior blemishes such as scratches, cracks, and nicks identified each diamond and also affected their ability to reflect light. These things diminished their clarity and value.
A grading system developed in the 1950s established four factors to describe and classify diamonds: clarity, cut, color, and Carat Weight. Following these GIA guidelines, each diamond’s plot pinpoints the exact location and nature of each characteristic and flaw.
As I studied the plots for each diamond, I imagined what a GIA plot of my life might look like. A chip of resentment here. A deep fissure of anger noted there. Surface scratches of pride and self-sufficiency. Nicks of selfishness throughout. A general cloud of apathy.
My imaginings humbled me and left me thankful that God doesn’t map by imperfections on a graph or identify me by my flaws. God recognizes my sin when He says He knows me intimately, meaning my innermost being and the thoughts and intentions of my heart.
But the story doesn’t end there. God reminds us He will forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness if we confess our sins. He will show us mercy and remember our sins and iniquities no more.
Our sin and flaws don’t diminish our value or God’s love for us. Unlike a diamond that is identified and valued by its flaws, God’s light and love shine through us with divine clarity that reveals we are reclaimed, restored, and redeemed. When God sees us through his lens of grace, he sees the righteousness of Christ—where flawed becomes flawless.
Have you let Christ redeem your flaws?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Jann Mills is an emerging writer who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. She enjoys writing devotionals and short stories about experiencing God in everyday life. When she’s not writing, you will find her walking the beach or gardening on her patio. She is the proud grandmother of three awesome grandchildren: Ava, Miles, and Max.