The Pearl, Part IX

What will a man give for his own soul? The answer to that question that comes from Jesus is simply... everything. A man will give all he has to obtain such a great mercy and gift that God provides freely through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a reward more valuable than anything we can imagine. Nothing can compare to it's infinite worth. As a Christian, we must keep our eyes on the prize (so to speak). You'll often times hear people speak of keeping ones eyes on Christ and this is essentially the same thing.

We must be mindful of the immense gift that Jesus provides to all that believe. Eternal life with Him will be a greater time by far than anything we can possibly imagine it will be. We must remind ourselves daily or even more often of how special this gift is and how rich we are that possess it. When we put the gift's value on a pedestal and truly understand it's impact and value, all other things seem much less important.

I am rich and those riches are limitless in Christ Jesus. Relate to this gift and it will change your life and how you look at life. I thank God for His great mercy for which there is no words to express how awesome it is. Think on the gift and relate to it's value every chance you get and you will understand what is truly important in life. If you do not do this, Satan will distract you and cause you to take the gift for granted. His job is to keep your eyes off Christ and keep them on your problems and desires. Once he has done this, he has stripped you of your joy and brought you into bondage. Doubt, depression, stress, strife, and worry are just around the corner. Believer beware.

Philippians 3:8-11 

⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The Pearl, Part VIII

I may wake up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow with an eviction notice on my door, my furniture in the yard, my wallet missing, and a car that refuses to start but even with all this I must remember that I have a gift and a prize promised that is more valuable than any other thing. Even under the most trying of times, I must never forget to properly assign and meditate on the pearl of great price, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

It is a prize and reward that I did not earn nor am I worthy of it but it is freely given to me by way of faith. It is more valuable and more coveted than any other item I possess. I can not smell it, taste it, feel it, or see it but I have been promised to receive it by God Himself. This is the hope I must cling to and stay grounded in. I must meditate on this gift and though priceless it may be, I must find a way to hope in it and stay focused on it's immense value. It is the single most important thing I could ever own.

It is easy to take such a gift for granted. It is not fully understood or known just how great this gift actually is. We can only imagine and how pitifully poor a picture we draw for the gift is so grand and immensely valuable that it is beyond human comprehension. Our physical mind may never be able to fully understand how great the gift of grace truly is. Yet, it is nevertheless important for us to set it as the pinnacle reward of our life. As we do this, it makes a greater impact on our lives and how we live it.

^{Romans 15:13}

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Pearl, Part VII

Salvation and righteousness through Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all. It is the single greatest gift that anyone can receive. The world (and the devil) tries desperately to apply pressure to our faith and joy in this gift so that we end up forgetting to bear fruit for God's glory. The true nature of the parable of the sower and it's profound meaning are based in faith (hearing and accepting the word of the gospel) which causes us to be joyful and then pushing past these pressures, "worldliness", trouble, and even persecution to end up bearing fruit for God.

God's wisdom is so amazing. So often we are taught that the 30,60, or 100 fold return (fruit) we reap (mentioned in the parable of the sower) is for us. The fruit is not for us. The fruit is for God. It is not about money, although there are many other scriptures that relate to tithing and money, this is not one of them. This parable is simply about how faith works from beginning to end.

We hear the word of God (or the gospel message) and we accept it with joy. The world immediately (with it's commitments, deadlines, troubles, persecution, responsibilities, and social/cultural structure) applies pressure to us to take our eyes off the prize and strip us of our faith and joy. If we push past these obstacles, we will bear fruit for God 30, 60, or 100 fold.

^{Matthew 13:18-23}

¹⁸"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. ²²The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. ²³But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

The Pearl, Part VI

I own great riches. I own what will one day be the most coveted of all possessions. Eternal life through Christ Jesus. It may not seem like a big deal now but it is the greatest of all gifts and possessions. There is nothing in this life or the next that can compare to it. Satan's job is to take our eyes off the gift. To wallow the expectation and joy of the gift in the mire of the world and it's cares. His job is to take our eyes off Christ and strip us of our joy and faith. Once he has done this, we fall into his hands and are subject to his devices.

He indeed has no power over us, only the power we give him. He was defeated 2,000 years ago but he doesn't want you to concentrate on that. The law is also powerless against us and we are free from the law and the requirements and curse of the law through Jesus. However, Satan uses the law to try to get us to sin against it and eventually use that to undermine our faith (which is his true motive). For obeying the law is not righteousness but faith in Jesus Christ. It is key that we understand our enemy and his schemes. Doubt, unbelief, despair, hopelessness, and fear are all weapons that he uses against us to take our faith.

We must stay focused on the pearl of great price which is the gift of righteousness and mercy through Jesus and the cross. Everyday is a new day to be mindful of His Kingship and to be aware of the fantastic gift that he gives to us freely. This is the basis for our joy and worship. Once we have lost this joy, Satan and the world will try desperately to strip you of the rest. It is easier not to fight. It is easier to just lay down the sword and shield and give in. It is more convenient to retreat. Yet, we must fight for our right to be called children of the most high God.

^{Ephesians 6:10-12}

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Pearl, Part V

Most don't know it yet but there will be a day beyond this life when the pearl of great price is the only thing worth having. Whether rich or poor, God's salvation will one day be hailed as the greatest prize of all. During the judgment that takes place at the end of the age all will know and understand the full value of the gift of grace that God the Father provides through His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is the most precious of all gifts. You could win the lottery hundreds of times over and never come close to being able to purchase such a priceless gift nor would anything be able to compare to it. It is this pearl that is the pinnacle gift in all the world and in the one to come. Assign it's proper value today. Do not delay in understanding how priceless of a gift it is. Give God His proper place and make Him your number one priority and help someone else find this great gift of life.

It is easy to de-value the gift once you have it. Salvation is no big deal, right? Wrong. It cost the Son of God His life and none of us has any idea what He went through to obtain it for us. When you keep your eyes focused on the only reward or prize that matters (salvation through Christ), it helps you to understand that most of whatever else we have or want is not really as valuable as we think. It is the only prize and we wait patiently for it. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

^{Philippians 3:13-16}

¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Amen, if it be possible, let us live up to what we have already attained!