Treasure Within

It used to be all the rage to only buy products that had the Good Housekeeping Seal (GHS) of approval label attached. The media promoted the idea and many consumers bought into the notion that something with the 'seal' on it was trustworthy, worth the investment, and good!

Perhaps I don't listen as intently as I used to or the promotion of Good Housekeeping seals has diminished over the years. Not sure which is the case. Never the less, it was with some surprise that I noticed the seal on a product that I recently purchased.

I looked closer and thought, "I guess the Good Housekeeping Seal is still a 'thing'." You might be able to guess what I did for the next five aisles of the grocery store. Yes, I lifted one product after another checking for the seal. Strangely, the seal isn't on every item on every shelf.

In a parallel universe, I bump into people who have a seal of sorts on them. It is an aura that exudes something different, something visible, and something special. These folks have grasped the enormity that God has created them and placed significance within them. This realization brings a person some sense of worth and purpose. On the other hand, I bump into people who have no seal, no visible identifying marks, and nothing special is seen. These folks have lost sight of God's creativity and purposeful design for their lives and have gotten caught in the swirling vortex of Satan's lies. Whether a product has the GHS on it or a person has some tangible mark brings me to conclude that amnesia is still a thing as well. Some forget their origins.

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of

the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that

move along the ground.” God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27, NIV)

If not every manufactured product or person has the seal on it/them, then why? Do some manufacturers decide their product isn't worthy to hold the (GHS)? Hardly. Do the manufacturers choose to forego the seal simply based upon the old notion that the seal was a selling point for said product? Probably. Many people think they aren't good enough to hold God's seal (image) and dismiss the idea. Others don't think they need the image of God (seal) within them. They are fine by themselves.

Do people decide they aren't worthy to hold the intrinsic seal of approval from God? Perhaps. Are they correct in their assessment? Hardly. The interesting piece of this conversation that could turn into a heated debate it this. We don't get to decide if we have the image of God within us. God places it there.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet

they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better

for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find

satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure

forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere

him. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14, NIV)

How are you seeing yourself today? Can you find your seal of approval from the God? Is it visible to those around you? If I approach you, will I be able to see a glowing joy and confidence bursting forth? If so, I applaud you. If not, I ask you this, "How can I help you discover your uniqueness?"

Take a pack of sticky notes and write this on about 20 of them. "You are God's treasure and original design!" Then take these and randomly place them in places you cannot miss them. Make sure you put one in your automobile. See if you don't start seeing the seal in a new way. It might change your perspective about who you are and whose you are.

"A Musing Pastor"