Mat 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls;
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
In Tamil there is a famous devotional song “En uyiraana yesu en uyirodu Kalantheer”……
Meaning “Jesus you are my life. You have become one with my life” . Everybody loves that song.
It is easy to sing. But can we love Jesus to the extent we love our life itself?
When our life is in danger, we will be ready to throw away everything, our luggages, certificates, jewels, properties, savings, all that we have considered precious thus far, in order to save our lives.
When our faith is in danger are we ready to throw away everything else in order to protect it?
Dear Soldiers, you would have experienced that when you become closer and closer to God, you will come to hate the worldly things little by little.
I know one believer, who owns two big houses in two different States. But now she is compelled to live in a house where she is treated less than a servant. She is not even given a cot. The servant is given a cot in that house . In the servant room, she lies down on the floor. Her salary is Rs 2,00,000/- per month. When she shared her situation with me, I asked her, “Why don’t you shift to one of your own houses and live there?”
She replied, “I have to live with my daughter so that I can somehow bring her to Jesus Christ.”
Finding Jesus as the Tree of Life is the “Pearl of great price” which the merchant found in his search for beautiful pearls.
Since the merchant knew the value of it, he considered everything else worthless and sold them out so that he could buy this pearl. It was so costly.
In the 12th century in a place called Assisi in Italy there lived a man called Francis. His father was a great merchant. He wanted his son to enter into his business and take it over. It was the time the Church of Jesus Christ was fully indulged in worldliness especially in mammon. The Lord called Francis with a special anointing to revive the Church. He taught and practiced the gospel truth of Mat 5:3.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven”.
In the 12th century in a place called Assisi in Italy there lived a man called Francis. His father was a great merchant. He wanted his son to enter into his business and take it over. It was the time the Church of Jesus Christ was fully indulged in worldliness especially in mammon. The Lord called Francis with a special anointing to revive the Church. He taught and practiced the gospel truth
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
On his decision to revive the Church , his family & society turned against him. One day his father who wanted to take revenge upon his son took him to the public for a trial and at the end declared that since Francis refused to stay with him and live a worldly life enjoying all the luxuries, becoming the legal heir of all the properties of his father, he disowned him. Francis will be no more his son. He cannot call him “Father”. But Francis was still adamant in his decision. His father, father added,
“Even the dress you wear is bought by me, you have no right over it”! Francis readily took it off and handed it over to him.
Since then Francis could call the Heavenly Father “Dad” with all rights. He never turned back from his calling. The Lord used him to bring a great revival which saved the Church from destruction. The 12th Centuary Church was being swallowed by the dragon, mammon.
Francis is one of those who ‘found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it’.
Yes. Only those who find the pearl can sell whatever they have in order to buy it.
In AOJ there are certain soldiers who have found the pearl of great price, have come forward to sacrifice everything, so that they can buy it.
Among us there are many who have heard about stories of this pearl. They are still searching to find this pearl. Those who have already found the pearl have to help those who are still searching. This is what we do in Troop Churches, Fellowships and in all other operations in AOJ.
How will you identify those who have found and tasted the “Pearl Jesus”?
They will be ready to forego anything, suffer anything for the sake of Jesus Christ. Above all,
Col 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any. As Christ forgave you, so also you do. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Even if we have all other things like, intelligence, wisdom, gifts of the Holy Spirit, fear of God, faith, hope etc.. if we lack in love we lack the most essential thing. Love tries to reach out to the most neglected, the most unwanted souls
Sometimes the Lord allows situations in one’s life that just in one day they lose everything they had put their trust in just like Job, His servant. The Lord searches their heart to see whether they are ready to pay the price for the “Pearl”.
Only those who have proved themselves worthy in every way will be selected for this. This will be the final test for them before finding the “Pearl” which they are searching.
Once you make the “Pearl” your own, life becomes enjoyable.
You pass on to a stage where there is no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no disappointment. Revelation 21:4 get fulfilled in their lives.
Rev 21:4 And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.
Even though it is said about the New Heavens New Earth, it is possible to enjoy this, even while you are living in this world.
Those who have owned the so called “Pearl Jesus” as their own, will be able to eat from the “Tree of Life” every day.
They will win over every obstacle, every opposition, will change the dry places into Eden gardens, and the valley of tears into joy.
Rev 21:4 And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.
Even though it is said about the New Heavens New This is not after death. It is possible even while you are living in this world.
Those who have owned the so called “Pearl Jesus” their own, will be able to eat from the “Tree of Life” every day.
They will win over every obstacle, every opposition, will change the dry places into prosperous ones, plunge daringly into every dark place and throw light into them.
•Let us thank God for all the blessings we received personally, in our family, workplace, in AOJ, & in our nation . Many countries experienced the after effects of war this year. But the Lord guarded our country safe.