Pearl
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for light from heaven; and when Christ was revealed to them, they
received Him with gladness.
In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The mer-
chantman 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.
Salvation is a free gift, and yet it is to be bought and sold. 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
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the jewels of truth is open to all. “Behold, I have set before thee an
open door,” the Lord declares, “and no man can shut it.” No sword
guards the way through this door. Voices from within and at the door
say, Come. 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.”
Revelation 3:8, 18
.
The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess. 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. Edu-
cation, even of the highest class, cannot of itself bring a man nearer
to God. The Pharisees were favored with every temporal and every
spiritual advantage, and they said with boastful pride, We are “rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”; yet they were
“wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Revelation
3:17
. Christ offered them the pearl of great price; but they disdained
to accept it, and He said to them, “The publicans and the harlots go
into the kingdom of God before you.”
Matthew 21:31
.
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.