A hankerchief made of very valuable material was ruined by an indelible ink blot.
The owner could no longer proudly display her prized possession so she sadly showed it to her friend - English art critic and painter - John Ruskin.
Ruskin took it, and with remarkable skill made that ugly ink blot the centre of a beautiful design.
The woman’s hankerchief was then far more valuable than before.

God, our maker, faced a situation something like that of the artist, except that the problem was immeasurably greater.

Adam was God’s supreme creation, but he had ruined himself by Sin. With his original perfection stained and disfigured, he was fit only to be eternally discarded.

But by the amazing strategy of the Cross, our gracious God, the Supreme Artist, takes ruined sinners and recreates then to reflect the beauty of Christ's holiness.

When we put our faith in the Crucified Saviour, we are not only completely forgiven, but God’s Holy Spirit transforms us, making us into the Creator's prized Possession.

As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, we will be displaying throughout eternity
"the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kindness toward us through Christ Jesus"
(Ephesians 2:7)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
(2 Corinthians 5:17)