“Again, 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.” Matthew 13:44-45
Jesus is quickly going through a series of parables describing heaven. In this parable, He points out the value of heaven.
This short, two sentence parable, is about a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he finds one he sells everything he has and buys it.
Heaven is just like that fine pearl. It is worth everything you have.
Many people find something that they desire with everything in them. They will sacrifice many things to get that one item. That item may be a car, house, job position, fame, fortune, and anything else. What lengths do people go to in order to get what they want?
Here, heaven is shown to be of that high value. It is worth giving up everything else to get it.
Unlike the pearl, heaven cannot be purchased with money. Yet, heaven still has a very high price to get. That price is your life.
No, you do not need to physically die in order to get heaven, but you must die spiritually. Only Jesus can get you into heaven. It is by His death that you can have heaven.
Die to yourself and follow Jesus. Give up everything to follow Jesus. Follow Him with everything in you and everything you have.
The value of following Jesus is that you will have peace, direction and meaning in this life. You will also get forgiveness of your sins and be accepted into heaven.
Often people want to get into heaven, but are not willing to pay the price. They want to have one foot in the world while the other is in heaven.
God does not want that. With God it is all or nothing. Is your heart sold out to Him? Are you selling all you have to follow Jesus? God may not have you physically sell all you have, but you must be willing to give it up if God wants you to.
Follow Jesus. It will be a high price, but it is worth it.
I pray today that God will reveal more of Himself to you; that you will see the value of following Jesus; that you will give your all to follow Jesus; that you will share the value of heaven with others; and that God will use you to build His kingdom.
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