Matthew 13:45-46, “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”
Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. How many of us are worried with the cares of this world and are not focused on the spiritual kingdom that is not physically seen?
In this small parable the Lord said the kingdom of Heaven is like a person looking for the best pearls and then finds one that surpasses all others and sells everything he has in order to obtain it.
Look at the character of this man:
1. He was a seeker of good pearls.
2. He recognized value in a pearl that was far superior to any other.
3. He sold everything he had in order to lay hold onto the best of pearls.
Are we all not seeking the best of things? Are all of us who call ourselves Christians confessing that we are seeking an eternal state?
All of us who are following Christ, we are all seeking the eternal nature of existence. Is that not the same as recognizing value as did the merchant? We are all placing value on the eternal nature and promises from Jesus to those that do the Father’s will. Look at what the parable teaches us, that we are to take all that we possess, our talents, our possessions, our desires, our hearts, our minds, our souls and give everything in order to be call least in the kingdom of Heaven.
In Rev 21:1-4, we are told that those that overcome this world and the things in it will inherit promises of: a new heaven and earth, of God wiping away all tears from our eyes, of God literally dwelling with us, of no more death, of no more sorrow, of no more crying, of no more pain, and in verse 7, of inheriting all things and having God as our Father and us adopted as His. This is the best of the best, we cannot find any greater promises than these, to have eternal life and with none of the bad. It is worth whatever it costs to become and stay a citizen in the kingdom of Heaven. The rewards are not seen with physical eyes but are seen through the eyes of faith by believing in the promise and the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. Let us lay hold on eternal salvation found in Christ.
Father, we pray that we will place the highest value on Your Will and Kingdom instead of the things that draw us away from Your Kingdom of Heaven found through Christ, may it be so in Jesus of Nazareth's name.