Diamonds and Stones

In southwest Arkansas there is a diamond mine—yes, a genuine diamond mine—open to the public near the town of Murfreesboro. At the turn of the 20th century, high-grade diamonds were mined commercially at the site.

When the lode no longer yielded diamonds in sufficient quantities to be commercially feasible, the mining operation shut down. Instead, for a small fee, the landowner would let folks hunt diamonds on the property—and people were allowed to keep whatever they found!

Over the years, visitors found many gems, large and small. Hunting was particularly good after heavy rains. Eventually, the site became Crater of Diamonds State Park. Today, tourists from around the nation come to spend a day of fun (and work!) digging in the fields, hauling soil to sluice boxes and looking for the precious jewels. Almost daily, some people's efforts are rewarded when they find real diamonds. However, most visitors find just ordinary stones.

Human beings are like that. Most people spend their lives endeavoring to find something of value—something they can treasure. For some, it is a physical treasure hunt for financial wealth; for others, it is the pursuit of power, status or prestige. People dig through the dirt of life and try to sluice away the worthless debris in order to find something of value. A few find physical riches, but only a very few find the real treasure, beyond the physical.

Park rangers are available at the state park to teach intrepid searchers what to look for to be successful in their search for diamonds. Most of us can agree that it would be foolish to set out on a quest without knowing how to achieve the goal, or even how to recognize a real diamond once it is found.

Yet all around us, human beings are going about their lives without seeking the instruction God has given them about what to look for in life. That instruction, of course, is found in the Bible—inspired revelation from the Creator God. Although most people have a copy of the book, few read it seriously, and even fewer do what it says. So, it is no surprise that most people never really find what they are searching for. They look in the wrong places. They do not know what to look for. They may think they are looking for diamonds, but all they find are stones.

King Solomon, a wise king of ancient Israel, wrote long ago: "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1–5). He also wrote: "There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15).

If you learn God's way, and heed His instructions for living, you can find what is truly valuable in this life—the "diamonds," if you will—and will be able to avoid wasting your time on worthless activities or "stones" of no lasting value. To help you in prospecting for what is truly valuable—in this life and in the life to come—the publishers of this magazine offer, absolutely free of charge, a 24-lesson Bible Study Course that is packed with practical truths found in your Bible. Do not risk missing out on the "diamonds" God wants you to discover in your life! Enroll in the Tomorrow's World Bible Study Course today! You can enroll online at www.twbiblecourse.org or by writing to the Regional Office nearest you (listed on page 30 of this magazine).