While waiting for a traffic light to turn green I noticed a sign with the big letters, "FREE."  Strewn around it was some of the most despicable junk I had ever seen.  I was hoping others had already taken the things of substance, if there ever was any.   The scene set my mind to thinking about yard sales and what a great story someone could write about God having a universe sale.  There could be an array of used angel robes, antique crowns, old record books that have since been replaced with a computerized record keeping system and a planet or two.   If earth was for sale it would seem to deserve a big "Free" sign.  There could be an explanation paragraph.  "Well used, extremely polluted, rebellious population prone to warring, shaking a lot and running out of resources."   However, no such sign would exist because God already purchased Earth.  It seems strange that He would have to purchase that which He made.  He paid dearly.

And why would God pay the price of the cross?  John 3:16 answers, "For God so loved the world."  Isn't that amazing?   God must be like the man at a flea market who purchased an old painting because he saw the great value of the frame.   God must see something here we don't see.  God sees potential. He sees souls, while not yet great, but indeed on the way to becoming great. God loves great souls.  

And what is a great soul?  Is it someone with tons of talent?  Not really. The talent can be added later.  A truly great soul is one who is willing to allow God to do scads of interior decorating.  The end product will be out of this world.