Able To See Beautiful Treasure

I have a thing for old German cars – Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes Benz…

Any car from these automakers between 1960-1969 is of interest to me.

I know a little bit about how much they’re worth when they have been restored, but my interest in these vehicles isn’t for business. I don’t care about making money on cars. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever lost money on cars (so don’t come to me for advice on buying or selling cars).

One person might see a nasty old rust bucket of a car sitting on someone’s lawn… but I see a treasure.

I’m drawn to it.

I like it.

And I actually think it’s beautiful—even in its not-yet restored condition.

To me, it’s a treasure.

I realize I’m kinda weird about the old German car thing and I’m not gonna convince anyone else to see these quirky cars as treasures (I’ve been trying to convince my family for 25 years now and haven’t won over a single convert).

While I don’t really care if you see old Audis as beautiful treasures, I do care how you see people.

It’s not that I want you to see people my way, I want us to see people God’s way.

How does God see people? As beautiful treasure.

He sees beauty, value, significance, and worth.

Even before “restoration” He thinks we’re beautiful.

He is drawn to people.

He likes us.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. —Colossians 1.13, 14

When Jesus walked the earth, he never looked past or ignored the misfits. He saw their beauty, value, and significance… He saw the person. He was drawn to them—and they were drawn to Him.

Don’t believe me? Check out Luke chapter 5.

There, you’ll read a story about a man with an “advanced” case of leprosy.

That dude probably looked like something between a zombie and a mummy…

And while others looked away, Jesus saw him.

He spoke to him. He even touched him, and healed the man—because Jesus saw beautiful treasure.

Ultimately, this is why He willingly went to the cross.

That’s what you must understand about God. His treasure is us.

And we need to see people—all people—the way God does.