45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
For what are you willing to sell everything you own to purchase? What don’t you have that you would give everything to receive? Think about that for a moment. It is a really hard question, a really deep question. I know some widows who would give everything they have if they could get their spouses back alive. Even though their spouses paid the ultimate price for this country, they would give it all up if they could get them back alive. The pain and loss is so great they would eat worms if it meant their husbands were back in their arms and lives. This parable is about the value of God’s Kingdom in our lives. It is the treasure worth searching for and worth trading everything else to obtain. Nothing is more precious than eternity. Nothing in this world is worth gaining if it means losing eternity in heaven. In this parable the merchant is looking for specific things. He specializes in fine pearls. He knows the best when he sees it. He has seen many fine pearls before, and is seeking the best. Some of us look at other options for happiness and fulfillment before coming to Christ. Some looked in the thrill of addictions. Some, the thrill of pleasure or of power. We found that they did not reach the deepest depths of our longings. They came up short in meeting our deepest need. Then we came to Christ and found a strangely satisfying message and substance. We are sinners condemned to die for whom God gave His life. In exchange for our sin, God gives us eternity. We slapped God with our arrogance and He gave us kisses of acceptance. And the Gospel meets the deepest need of our hearts, to be connected, safe and secure. The Gospel is worth the loss everything else in life.
The Arnold Journey 