Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Heavens Treasure


Do you recognize the value of the Kingdom of heaven? The bible says it's a treasure. It's such a treasure that we give all we have to have it. Let's take a look at a passage of scripture that explains the value of the Kingdom of Heaven.



Mat 13:44
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field-and to get the treasure, too!
Mat 13:45
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.
Mat 13:46
When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!


First of all we see two examples how we find this treasure:



One way is we stumble upon it like the man that discovered a treasure hidden in a field. He wasn't searching for it he just suddenly saw it! He was so excited and recognized it's value that he immediately hid the treasure again and then sold all he had to be able to buy that field. That's how valuable that treasure was to this man. The other example is of a man that was looking for it. The merchant was on the look out for choice pearls. Of course when he found the pearl he was looking for he sold all he owned and bought it!



What do we learn from this? The Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have. It's of such value that we must be willing to sacrifice all we have for it. I guess the only way though for us to be willing to sell out for Christ, is when we recognize the value or worth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The men in this parable understood and recognized the value of the treasure they either stumbled upon or sought after, and when they saw it, when they had a chance to get their hands on it, they sold all they had to have it.



Do you have eternal life? Do you know how to purchase the Kingdom of Heaven? Have you discovered the treasure that this parable talks about? If you have found this treasure, this chioce pearl, then you know what has to be done to obtain it. You have to sell out. You have to give up all you have to have it. Now the gift of Salvation is free isn't it? And here I am telling you the Kingdom of heaven can be purchased! Please do not misunderstand me here. The gift of salvation is free. It free as far as Christ has already paid the price for you and I. Even though we are sinners, Christ died for us and his death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin. We've been forgiven and made righteous by the blood of Christ. We've been washed clean. Our requirement for this salvation is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for us. We must confess Jesus as our Lord and the bible promises us that Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The free part means there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. Jesus did it all, we just have to recognize the treasure. Here's where the cost comes in for us. We have to give up our old life, our old ways and give our life and control over to Jesus. The key word here is LORD. We have to make Jesus LORD of our life. That means we do not have authority over ourselevs anymore, Jesus does. That's how we purchase this treasure... it's really a trade isn't it? Give up my life and all I have for the riches that Jesus offers. So let me ask you.



Have you stumbled upon this treasure or have you been searching, looking for this valuable pearl? Did you find it? Did you get excited at the realization that you found something awesome that is far more valuable that anything you have ever seen? Did you instantly know that whatever you did, you would not let this treasure escape your grasp. The hidden treasure of course is Jesus! I hope you have found Jesus, I hope you have realized his value and I hope you see that He is the way to the kingdom of Heaven. Make him your Lord. sell out and give all you have and follow him. There is no greater treasure in all the world.



Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that whether we stumble upon you or whether were seeking you, the great news is that when we realize how valuable you are to us, may we be willing to sell all we have to have you. May we make you LORD of our life and be obedient to your will. Thank you Lord for loving us so much that you reveal yourself to us so that when we meet you, your Spirit convicts us of our need for you. Thank you Lord for eternal life and for the Kingdom of heaven that awaits us one day when we make you Lord of our life. What a treasure you are! Amen.






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