The Opal

The opal is the most beautiful of all stones. Actually, it has no colour of its own, yet, it has all the shades and tints of other gems. It is also unique, in that it has never been successfully imitated, although diamonds, rubies, and pearls have been, and are, so wonderfully copied that often only an expert can discover which is real, and which is counterfeit. Some legends state that, if worn on the finger, the opal will indicate the approaching death of the wearer. This is not quite true—the fact is that when damp the opal loses its lustre; therefore, if on a clammy hand it grows dull.

The opal has been called the stone with a broken heart. It is always found deep in the ground, and while there, under the pressure of the earth above and around it, it becomes cracked. These cracks are filled with air, moisture, and certain products of the earth, and when the opal is taken out of the ground the cracks reflect all the tints and shades of other gems—the violet of the amethyst, the blue of the sapphire, the green of the emerald, the yellow of the topaz, and the red of the ruby. All these various shades and colours are seen at different times. The life story of the opal is, that long ago it was pressed and pressed, until it began to break, the cracks which appeared closed up with certain things imprisoned in them, and these in after years flashed out beautiful colouring. Men dug in the earth, and when they had found this stone, they polished it, and called it a "precious stone "—something of great value.

Is not the story of man something like that of the opal in many respects? Man was crushed and "cracked" by the awful weight of sin, then our Lord Jesus Christ came and poured out His love and His grace, that they might flow into the terrible wounds caused by sin. He does more, He so cleanses all who come to Him in faith, and so pours out His Spirit of love, that from them may shine and flash forth the beautiful light reflected from Himself

Jesus ascended up to glory, but sent His Spirit to dwell with men who believe on Him, that He may polish (sanctify) men's hearts so that one day they may be gathered together with His jewels. "They shall be Mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up My jewels."