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Heaven’s Flawless Pearl, March 5
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.
Matthew 13:45, 46
.
Christ Himself is the pearl of great price.... The righteousness of Christ,
as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve
the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are “hid
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:3
. He is “made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
1
Corinthians 1:30
. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human
soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our
Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be
accounted loss....
In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman
bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this,
since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to
those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve.
We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to
all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we
possess, are the Lord’s, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus
give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives
Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price....
In the market of which divine mercy has the management, the precious
pearl is represented as being bought without money and without price. In
this market all may obtain the goods of heaven. The treasury of the jewels of
truth is open to all.... The Saviour’s voice earnestly and lovingly invites us:
“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.”
... The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no
amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing obedience,
by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession....
We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest
and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for
it.
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