The Perfect Backdrop

When was the last time you went to a jewellery store?

For me it was when I went to pick up an engagement ring so I could proposed to my lovely fiancé and (hopefully) soon to be wife.

I was absolutely dazzled! Firstly, by the price… and secondly, by the beauty of all the precious diamonds! 

They were displayed on a dark black velvet cloth, which helped them stand out even more.

The jeweller knows that black is the perfect backdrop for these precious diamonds because it lets the diamonds shine through in all their glory.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he spends the first few chapters doing something similar.

Rom 3:10b No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one… 19b the entire world is guilty before God.

Just like the jeweller Paul sets the scene for his message by showcasing the dark backdrop of human sinfulness and unrighteousness. He then continues;

Rom 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Every single human being has fallen short of God’s glorious and good standard. 

But, our sinfulness is the perfect backdrop for God’s righteousnesses to shine though!

Rom 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Against the dark backdrop of human sin God’s grace in Christ shines through like a marvellous diamond.

Praise be to our gracious God! He has freed us from sin and made us right in his sight!

JACOB MIERENDORFF