The Pearl of Great Price--Posted 02/11/2006
Matthew 13:45-46 says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had
found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
Can you imagine selling all that you own to buy one little, expensive pearl?
Would it make good sense to mortgage your home to purchase a very costly pearl?
Picture the art collector who searches all his life for that one "masterpiece" to top off his collection; and then can't afford to buy
it unless he sells all the others...
Jesus tells us here that this "merchant man" was searching for "goodly pearls". VALUABLE pearls by today's standards.
The "search" continues in many lives as I write this message. The world is chalk-full of promises of wealth, popularity,
power...just to name a few.
Satan has his devices to lure and trap the "unexpecting".
The Bible says in I Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour:"
Many roadblocks are in place for your soul. Beware of Satan's trickery, he has designs on your life.
This previously mentioned "merchant man" was seeking out something of value. What is it that you are looking for? Maybe you
feel a need to succeed: financially, socially, materially,...only you know.
But note what takes place when this "merchant man" finds what his career-long search has finally brought him to.
"Who, when he FOUND ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE..."(emphasis mine)
Honestly, very few people would sell all they own for the opportunity to have one "valuable" pearl. Really, what good would it be
to you? It couldn't shelter you from the storms of life. It wouldn't be able to feed your family. It couldn't guarantee you an easy
retirement.
But this man saw the "true value" of this very special pearl; that it was worth the sacrifice of his living to attain it.
"(he)...went and sold ALL that he had,..."(emphasis mine).
Complete and entire dedication to attain this precious pearl was his motivating force.
When Christ called Matthew, the writer of the text, notice how Matthew reacted to Christ's bidding. "And after these things
he(Christ) went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi(Matthew), sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow
me. And he(Matthew) left ALL and followed him."-Luke 5:27&28(emphasis mine)
Complete consecration to Christ, the "one pearl of great price", will be the end to your searching.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the LOSS OF ALL THINGS, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," Philippians 3:7&8 (emphasis mine).
The Apostle Paul was "sold out" for the cause of Christ, just as the "merchant man" was for his livelihood.
"...and (he) bought it."
The decision must be made. A choice is at hand.
Acts 4:12 tells us, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved."
What will you do? How will you respond to this call from the Lord? Waiting will only delay the inevitable; all will stand before
God and give an account for their own decisions in life. Why wait until it is too late?
II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)" (emphasis mine)
Accept Christ Jesus into your life today.