Jesus once said that 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. Then, Jesus added, 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. (Matthew 13:44-45)
In the first scene, the picture is of a poor farmer who was in for a surprise. He was going about his regular duties, ploughing his field, when he stumbles on this treasure. In his unspeakable joy, he parts with everything that he has to buy that field because of the value of that treasure. In the second scenario, we have a sophisticated seeker. This merchant was looking for fine pearls. And when he found what he was looking for, he sold all he had and bought that priceless pearl.
What treasure will your search uncover?
In the insightful words of C.S. Lewis, “When the author walks on to the stage the play is over... something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”
The choices we make today are lasting. We reveal who we are by what we treasure. Let us treasure that one of everlasting value.
Work Cited
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. pp. 64-5.
McGrath, Alister. Glimpsing the Face of God: The Search for Meaning in the Universe. Eerdmans : 2002.
In the first scene, the picture is of a poor farmer who was in for a surprise. He was going about his regular duties, ploughing his field, when he stumbles on this treasure. In his unspeakable joy, he parts with everything that he has to buy that field because of the value of that treasure. In the second scenario, we have a sophisticated seeker. This merchant was looking for fine pearls. And when he found what he was looking for, he sold all he had and bought that priceless pearl.
What treasure will your search uncover?
In the insightful words of C.S. Lewis, “When the author walks on to the stage the play is over... something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”
The choices we make today are lasting. We reveal who we are by what we treasure. Let us treasure that one of everlasting value.
Work Cited
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. pp. 64-5.
McGrath, Alister. Glimpsing the Face of God: The Search for Meaning in the Universe. Eerdmans : 2002.
“Faith can be thought of as saying ‘Yes!’ to God and throwing open the portals of our souls to the refreshing, renewing and transforming presence of the living God.”
- Alister McGrath
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