Friday, May 11, 2012
Striking it Rich
Even Snopes.com confirms the story is true. In 1989 a Philadelphia
financial analyst, purchased a painting in an Adamstown, PA flea market. His
name was Donald Scheer. He wasn’t
attracted to the painting itself, but bought the picture for the old frame. He
only paid four dollars. As he began removing the painting from the frame it fell
apart, and he spotted a piece of paper hidden behind the painting. It appeared
to be a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence. Upon appraisal
he was informed that he had discovered an original copy of the Declaration of
Independence that was printed by John Dunlap.
Imagine his surprise when Donald discovered that only 24 original copies of this document existed, and that only three of them were privately owned. In 1991, Scheer was able to sell the rare print he had purchased for $4 at an auction for $2.42 million dollars. He had struck it rich, becoming an instant millionaire.
Imagine his surprise when Donald discovered that only 24 original copies of this document existed, and that only three of them were privately owned. In 1991, Scheer was able to sell the rare print he had purchased for $4 at an auction for $2.42 million dollars. He had struck it rich, becoming an instant millionaire.
Most
of us dream of striking it rich like Donald Scheer. We imagine finding the treasure that will
insure a live of ease and security. Stories
like his are few and far between, but the truth is that people strike it rich
all the time. Sometimes the valuables
they discover are in plain sight but undetected by others. Too often we measure value only in dollars
and cents, when the most valuable things in life are measured in things like
love and healthy relationships -- the greatest of those treasures being
forgiveness and everlasting life.
The
church I oversee recently offered free groceries to all adult guests who came
to a Sunday morning service. We did this
in an effort to help those who may be struggling in our sluggish economy. As a result, several dozen people came to a
Sunday morning service expecting a few groceries but they got far more than
what they imagined. A couple of our
guests told us that they felt God’s presence and a love more powerful than they
had ever experienced. Four of our
visitors chose to be baptized in Jesus name like Peter instructed believers to
do in Acts 2:38. According to the Bible,
those guests went home with a clean heart. Two of those same guests also
received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues like Jesus
mother and disciples did in Acts chapter 1.
The joy they experienced was evident. They came looking for temporal
help but left having received eternal blessings. What a deal!
That
is the same scenario Jesus’ contemporaries witnessed. People would come to Jesus’ meetings out of
curiosity and leave delivered from emotional issues, healed of physical illness
and set free from cynicism and unbelief.
Those who came looking for Jesus two thousand years ago struck it rich;
those who seek him today will too!
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