The Priceless Pearl

[Thompson, Darryl]

The Priceless Pearl 

     Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and
sold all that he had, and bought it. Matt. 13:45, 46.  

     This goodly pearl represents the priceless treasure of Christ, as
does the gold hid in the field. In Christ we have everything that is
needful for us in this life, and that which will make up the joy of the
world to come. All the money in the world will not buy the gift of peace
and rest and love. These gifts are provided for us through faith in
Christ. We cannot purchase these gifts from God; we have nothing with
which to buy them. We are the property of God, for mind, soul, and body
have been purchased by the ransom of the life of the Son of God. . . .  

     Then what is it to buy the eternal treasure? It is simply to give
back to Jesus His own, to receive Him into the heart by faith. It is
cooperation with God; it is bearing the yoke with Christ; it is lifting
His burdens. . . . The Lord Jesus laid aside His royal crown, He left
His high command, He clothed His divinity with humanity, in order that
through humanity He might uplift the human race. He so appreciated the
possibility of the human race that He became man's substitute and
surety. He places upon man His own merit, and thus elevates him in the
scale of moral value with God.  

     Christ is the atoning sacrifice. He left the glory of heaven, He
parted with His riches, He laid aside His honor, not in order to create
love and interest for man in the heart of God, but to be an exponent of
the love that existed in the heart of the Father. . . . Jesus paid the
price of all His riches, He assumed humanity, He condescended to a life
of poverty and humiliation, in order that He might seek and save that
which was lost.  

     Through the grace of Christ we may be strengthened and matured, so
that though now imperfect we may become complete in Him. We have
mortgaged ourselves to Satan, but Christ came to ransom and redeem us.
We cannot purchase anything from God. It is only by grace, the free gift
of God in Christ, that we are saved.  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 83