The Pearl Of Great Price - Part 1
Matthew 13 contains what we call “The Mystery Parables”. They all primarily deal with various characteristics of the Church age. One of them is about the Pearl Of Great Price. Now there are a few different interpretations about what that Pearl is, but for many reasons I believe it represents the Church during the Church age. When I was stationed in the Navy, my Submarine pulled into Mallorca Spain. A beautiful little Island in the Mediteranean. That Island is famous for it’s cultured pearls. Do you know how you can tell the difference between a cultured pearl and a real one? The real one is gritty. Yes, it’s gritty. Thats the way the true Church is. Think about it, all the martyrs down through the centuries, think of all the persecution that it has endured. Think of all the hardship it has gone through and still praises Jesus. Yes, there is a particular resiliency the the Lord has given his Church. Of course Jesus went to great effort and paid a great price for us and soon he’ll retrieve us. Maranatha!
I heard, one way to tell a real pearl from a fake one is to rub it on your teeth. Just like you said, the real one will be rough and the fake one will be smooth. It reminds me of what Israel wanted Isaiah to do, speak smoothly to them. (Isaiah 30.10) With that in mind it opens up a whole new avenue of thinking. When it comes to evangelism, why does the Church try to present a “smooth” gospel? We can’t make God’s word anymore palatable than it is already. People need to hear the truth, it is the truth that will set them free. One day I believe we will be smooth but that will be on the Day of the Lord. On that day, all the chiseling by the Master will be done and the rough edges of your life and mine will be gone. Maranatha indeed!