C.H. Spurgeon was a well-known and respected 19th
Century preacher in England. In his biography, a story is told of an
eye-opening event with a well-to-do and prominent citizen of London.
Spurgeon was strolling down the city streets one day when
he met this youthful well-dressed man. In short order, the privileged young man
informed the preacher that he had obtained everything that was needed in life.
He proudly stated that he was young, healthy and had become a lucrative business
man. After a few moments, the seasoned preacher asked, “that’s well enough, but
do you know the Lord? Are you a Christian?” The affluent man answered, “What
need do I have of that? That has no interest for me.” Spurgeon then asked,
“Sir, will you accompany me for a few moments?” The man reluctantly agreed.
Down the street they went and entered into a dilapidated
apartment building. They walked up two flights of stairs and knocked on the
door of this tiny apartment. Minutes passed slowly as they stood waiting for a
response. The impatient young man was eager to move on with his busy day but eventually
the door gingerly opened. Standing there, hunched over, was an elderly lady. Her
face was wrinkled by the years and her body crippled with arthritis. She was
delighted to have visitors, one being her pastor. It was obvious by the cold
room and ragged conditions that the lady was very poor. With pain making each
step nearly unbearable, she eased back across the barren apartment and onto her
bed.
Once settled, she expressed to the men how grateful she
was for the generosity of her church and the Lord’s people. “Why if it wasn’t
for them, I couldn’t even afford this little apartment,” she whispered.
Spurgeon, knowing what she would say, inquired, “Sister, what do you have to
look forward to in this life?” “Nothing, nothing on this earth” she responded.
The wise old preacher then asked, “Sister, the man I have
brought with me today has youth, vigor, wealth and a prosperous future, but he
does not have Christ. If you could, would you be willing to trade places with
him?”
In spite of the throbbing pain, the old woman sat up in
her bed, turned toward her guests and with a look of shock and confusion she
boldly exclaimed, “Trade places with him? Never!”
Reader, if you have never trusted Christ it does not
matter how much wealth or vitality you have, you are a spiritual pauper.
Jesus uses the parable found in Matthew 13:45-46 to
illustrate that eternal life is of greater value than anything else on earth.
In the parable, our Lord states that the kingdom of God is like a merchant man
seeking fine pearls. After finding a single pearl of enormous value, the
merchant goes and sells all he has in order to obtain this one pearl.
The narrative teaches us that this merchant man
considered this one single pearl worth more than everything else he owned. He
was willing to sell everything in order to purchase this solitary prize. Such
is the kingdom of God.
 |
| John Everett Millais |
Entering into the kingdom of Christ is the single
greatest treasure there is. Nothing is worth more. Christ’s kingdom is so
precious that we should be willing to sell everything, or leave everything
behind in order to obtain it.
Of course, we know that entrance into this glorious
kingdom cannot be bought with money. A parable is simply an illustration.
Parables are descriptive and not prescriptive. In other words, no amount of
money, penance, or sacrament can purchase entrance into God’s kingdom. We are
saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Perhaps you have been searching for something to satisfy the
emptiness inside you. One Bible scholar has said, that every human has a
“God-shaped hole” in them, that only He can fill. Every person that has trusted
in the sinless life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, feel just exactly like the old lady
in the story. There is nothing we would exchange for eternal life. It is the
Pearl of Great Price.
Have you found it?
Pastor Lewis Kiger
Memorial Heights Baptist Church
svdbygrace2@roadrunner.com
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