THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - PART 3

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2024

The focus in today's article is directly majored on the second person, known as a jewel merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. More below!

Reference: Matthew 13:44-46 New International Version (NIV)

'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "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."'

Now watch this:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

Question:

Who is this jewel merchant in quest of choice pearls, whose enduring ambition or aspiration in his "searching" endeavours are of a contemplative and pleasing character?

Answer:

Hebrews 11:9-10 (AMP) reads, "By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God" (Study Hebrews 11:10-12 properly).

In a nutshell, the Spirit of revelation knowledge pointed me to Abraham as the jewel merchant who sought good pearls, and, when he found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had and bought the city whose foundation markedly denotes what God constructed (eternal Kingdom of heaven).

To that effect, the Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56 NIV). How? Abraham, the jewel merchant, looked for fine pearls, and then saw Christ's heaven, the One of great value, and was so glad he saw the treasured day. How did Abraham buy the precious pearl of great value? He bought it with utmost generosity to God - taken to the extreme, which was through his only abundant riches, namely Isaac. He portrayed such a wisdom after welcoming his only son Isaac, regardless of an "agelong" absence of that child, due to Sarah's barrenness. By selling every Isaac he had, he bought the one pearl of great value. The Bible says:

"When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Genesis 22:9-12 NIV).

Beloved, this is the true meaning of the jewel merchant leaving his country, his family, and father's home, thereby searching for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Then when he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had (Isaac) and bought it. And this is how God delivered it to him, after paying the price, on account of his willingness to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to His instructive influence:

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me" (Genesis 22:15-18 NIV).

To that effect, Jesus said to the Jews, "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:56-58 ESV). In other words, the very "one" pearl of great price was in existence before our Father Abraham, the jewel merchant, found and bought it, though it was a hidden mystery, according to Pauline epistolary platitude (see Colossians 1:26 NKJV).

Abraham was full of enduring faith, so patient and so in awe of the supernatural, that he engaged in profitable discovery accompanied by the best of revelation of the divine vision that brought us an "uncommon" wealth of inheritance in Christ. Beloved, if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29 NIV). Indeed, we are his spiritual heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to us, his descendants in Christ. Stay tuned for part 4. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Genesis 15:5-6; Genesis 17:17; Galatians 3:14-29; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14.

Exuberant Declaration:

I function in a state of an extraordinary imperiality because I am a peculiar treasure and the glorious result of God's faithfulness to Abraham, the wholesale jewel merchant who discovered Christ's heaven, as one great and precious pearl of vast price. Blessed be God!