I listen to

National Public Radio, The Joy FM Christian station, and

occasionally the Kicks 101.5 country station.

There is a commercial that

I have heard a thousand times that says, "You have a

friend in the diamond business - the Shane

Company."

Now I have never been to

the Shane Company and am certainly not endorsing their

product but am using the ad to make a point. In fact,

remember the TV commercial which showed a very much in

love couple under a tree somewhere in a park and behind

the music and smiles and the kiss, a voice said, "A

diamond is forever"? This seemed to be THE much

repeated commercial to sell diamonds.

In my mind, however a red

light went off and kicked in my common sense grid to say

back to the TV, "Yes PAYING for a diamond is

forever!

On Wednesday nights at 7

p.m. in our home, my wonderful and very capable wife Dr.

Lydia is teaching the "Precepts" Kay Arthur

Bible study entitled, "Covenant." These are a

series of nine videotaped segments hosted by a wonderful

man named Wayne Barber. Wayne is very sharp spiritually

and a very entertaining and funny man.

In this Covenant Bible

study we are learning how important our "covenant

relationship" to Christ really is. You can read

about David and Jonathan establishing a binding

relationship between the two of them in 1st Samual 18.

In the Old Testament days

to "cut a covenant" with someone actually meant

to exchange articles of clothing with your covenant

partner. You even exchanged weapons with your covenant

partner. You took this very seriously. Your sword was his

sword. This meant that you actually "became"

the other person. When someone took out after you, they

were taking out after him or her also.

Your enemies are my

enemies, your battles are my battles. It was far more

reaching than to just "have a friend in the diamond

business." These covenant vows and relationships

were "'til death do us part" and they meant it.

We have just completed the

third segment but they are all so rich in content that

you would benefit from any of the segments. We have

several couples in attendance so it is not a "woman

only" Bible study. Just imagine that if you are a

believer in Christ and you enter into relationship with

him and he becomes your covenant partner, that his

enemies are your enemies, your battles are his battles

and vice versa. Now you really have a "friend in the

business of life." What a joy!

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon

is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a

substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school

system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is

currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across

from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer

line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]