March 30, 2004

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45, 46, RSV).

The portrait of a pearl of great price sparkles with luster and beauty. This beautiful title is drawn from one of Christ's most memorable parables of a merchant searching for beautiful pearls. Until men learned to cut and polish precious stones, the pearl was for many centuries the most popular and prized of all jewels. The Greeks placed special value on the pearl. The intrinsic value of the pearl lies in its size, shape, and luster.

Christ, the "Pearl of Great Price," is precious because of His absolute perfection of character. He is of transcendent value because as God He transcends His creation. He is priceless and precious because in Him alone is life. Without Him, life is a dull, pointless, hopeless existence. As the "Pearl of Great Price," Jesus is altogether irreplaceable. To find the "Pearl of Great Price" is to be truly a multi-millionaire.

As in the case of the enterprising merchant of Christ's parable, discovering the "Pearl of Great Price" has a price. The paradox is that salvation is both free and costly. However, "the poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation, for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it."--Christ's Object Lessons, p. 117. To have the "Pearl of Great Price" requires the full, unconditional surrender of self. In so doing, we lose nothing and gain everything in the transaction. "Christ Himself is the Pearl of Great Price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead... Our Redeemer is the Pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss."--Christ's Object Lessons, p. 115.

My Prayer Today: Lord, how rich I am to discover the "Pearl of Great Price!" May I give up all to retain Him. Amen.