I don't always appreciate modern art. That is, I sometimes find it difficult to find the "art" for all of the "modern." It doesn't make sense to me.

Apparently, I'm not the only one. In an art gallery in Italy, an employee of a cleaning firm discarded random bits of newspaper, cardboard, and cookies, not realizing that it was a display of contemporary art. The display was valued at 10,000 euros (over $13,000), but lost all value when carted off with the rest of the trash.

Such things have happened before. In 2001, a collection of beer bottles, coffee cups, and ashtrays were thrown out of the Eyestorm Gallery in London. You guessed it… it was an exhibition by artist Damien Hirst. The same thing happened in 2004 with an exhibition in Berlin by artist Gustav Metzger.

It's like the old saying: "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Or in these cases, one man's treasure was another man's trash.

In the Old Testament, we read the story of Esau and Jacob. They were twins, but Esau had been born first and would receive the birthright, the extra share of the family inheritance that was given to the eldest son.

But Esau didn't appreciate what he had. One day when he was very hungry, he sold his birthright to his brother for a single plate of food. (You can read that story in Genesis 25:29-34.) As the Bible says, "Esau despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:34). That is, he didn't value the family inheritance.

God sent his son Jesus to die for us. He sent him to die so that we could live. The offer of salvation is a precious treasure, yet some won't recognize that. They'll "despise" God's offer, discarding this gift like yesterday's trash.

What about you? Do you value what Jesus did for you? Do you treasure God's salvation or will you throw it away?

Do you treasure God's salvation or will you throw it away?
The choice is yours.

If you don't know why salvation is a treasure or don't know how to find it, I'd like to explain it to you. Write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org. Or join the discussion at www.hopeforlife.org.

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