THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - PART 4

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2024

The brief story of a merchant looking for fine pearls is the exemplum and similitude of Christ's Kingdom of heaven, the lesson of His theological philosophy, and the trademark of His divine origin. Notably, the most orthodox practitioner of faith in his time, so far as the glorious gospel is concerned, was the Patriarchal figure, father Abraham. 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."'

Did Abraham really pay the price with his son's life? Without doubt, yes, he did! The answer is found in Hebraic awakening indication numbered as Hebrews 11:17-19 which reads, "It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead" (NLT). If you observe this versified passage with an increasing attention, you'll definitely acknowledge that in the mind of Abraham, his son was already considered a sacrificial offering to God. Got it? Isaac was eventually passed from calculated death to life through an angelic intervening intelligence. 

God Himself assured in Genesis 18:18 that Abraham would surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (NIV). Then another Scripture says, "And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice" (Genesis 22:18). In this case, within the mind of God, Abraham sacrificially eliminated his only beloved son, because he practically and obviously made Isaac, a lamb available for that purpose. And this necessarily implies his stout-hearted faith in that instruction from God, for without such faith, Isaac would not be on the ground of altar of sacrifice.

Indeed such a trust in God was too deep, because all odds were against the only one and true means of securing Abraham's descendants. So the scene God had witnessed in the theatre of Abraham's demonstration of faith moved Him in the heavens, such that the intensity of faith description and impressive inference it registered in God's mind produced an undeniable and unequivocal conviction in God, and then, the conviction reproduced what we have and experience in Christ Jesus today. To that effect, Romans 4:13 reads, "Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith" (NLT).

For good measure, here in Galatians 3:14, apostle Paul focuses on this same notion which is evidentially capacious in God's mind, and it reads, "This is what God had in mind all along: the blessing He gave to Abraham might extend to all nations through the Anointed One, Jesus; and we are the beneficiaries of this promise of the Spirit that comes only through faith" (VOICE). In the reality of salvation, the two entities that are regarded as inseparable are Abraham and the Lord Jesus Christ. Although "remission of sins" is not attached to this immediate versified statement, salvation is designed to secure our redemption and remission of sins, leading to the main plan in God's mind, which is for us to become the full beneficiaries of Abraham's blessing, by receiving the promise of the Spirit that comes only through faith in Christ. Got it?

Beloved, the presence of the Spirit is the true fulfilment of all of God's promises to Abraham, indicating that the Holy Spirit came through Abraham's descendant, thus perfecting the new covenant with God which is mediated by the Lord Jesus. So God's promises established a binding agreement with Abraham and his offspring. And in the Scriptures, it is carefully stated, "and to your descendant" (meaning one precious pearl of great value), not "and to all your descendants" [meaning many]. Therefore, in these covenant promises, God was not referring to every son and daughter born into Abraham's family but to Jesus, the Anointed One to come (see Galatians 3:16 AMP), more so, denoting the precious pearl of great value bought by the high-priced faith of a jewel merchant. Stay tuned for part 5. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Genesis 22:17; Matthew 28:18-20; Genesis 24:1; Galatians 3:7-9.

Exuberant Declaration:

I am bountifully elated because of the Holy Ghost, who indwells my innermost being and enables me to have an intimate fellowship with the Almighty Father and His Son, Jesus Christ; hence I'm constantly enveloped in the atmosphere of Kingdom of heaven, whose worth and eternal value are priceless. Blessed be God!