The Pearl of great price!


Charles Spurgeon, et al.

Matthew 13:45-46, "The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking
for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and
sold everything he had, and bought it!"

Here is a picture of a soul awakened to eternal realities. The merchant
represents one who has grown weary of the worthless trinkets of this world,
and now seeks that which truly satisfies. He has handled many
pearls--pleasures, possessions, learning, religion--yet none have filled the
aching void within. Then, in the providence of God, he beholds the one Pearl
of great price: the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in whom alone the restless heart
finds peace.

And when he finds it--when his eyes are opened to see the beauty and glory
of Jesus--everything else fades into insignificance. The shining virtues,
the moral pearls he once prided himself upon--lose their luster, beside the
radiant splendor of the Savior. He realizes that what he had called good,
was but dross in comparison with the precious Lord Jesus and His sin-atoning
sacrifice. Now he knows that nothing will suffice, but this Pearl of great
price--and the righteousness, wisdom, sanctification, and redemption found
only in the sin-atoning Savior.

Therefore, he sells all that he has. He parts with his
self-righteousness, his religion, his worldly ambition, and his cherished
sin. He counts all things loss, for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus as
his Lord. To the world, this appears foolish--to give up all that he is
and has, for this one Pearl of great price. But faith knows that this
Pearl is worth infinitely more than the whole creation. In losing
all--he gains all. He exchanges vanity, for reality; guilt, for
pardon; poverty, for everlasting riches.

The wonder of grace is this: though the parable speaks of buying,
salvation is freely given. Yet no man will ever possess it, until he is
willing to forsake all else. It costs nothing--and it costs everything.
The proud, the half-hearted, and the double-minded, will never gain Jesus.
Only the humbled soul, emptied of every rival treasure, will find in Him
fullness of joy and eternal life.

Believer, have you counted His worth aright? The more you behold this Pearl,
the more precious He becomes. All Heaven's glory is gathered up in Him, and
He is yours forever. Let the world keep its counterfeit pearls; your heart
has found the true One--the Pearl of great price.

"But whatever was to my profit. I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What 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." (Philippians
3:7-8)