Secrets of the Kingdom: Worth Everything


One of the most remarkable aspect of Jesus' teaching was his use of parables.  Apparently, he used parables far more than any other teacher of his time.  A parable is an extended metaphor or simile, used to help teach a truth.  Usually, Jesus' parables taught one simple truth, though there were exceptions.  His parables had a dual function.  They revealed secret truths to his followers, but concealed them from those who sought to do him harm (see Matt. 13:10-17).

Many of his parables were about the kingdom of God.  The Bible teaches that at the end of the world, God will establish his kingdom on earth.  Jesus taught that one day the kingdom would come in full power and glory, but that it was starting to enter the world through him.  It would enter the world slowly, transforming it.  

Matthew 13:44-46 tells about two parables: the hidden treasure and the precious pearl.  Though they're two different parables, they reveal the same truth: entering the kingdom costs us everything, but it gives us infinitely more than what we give up!

Entering the kingdom costs us everything.  Matthew 16:24-25 records that Jesus said that those who wanted to follow him had to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow him.  In his time, when you took up your cross, you went to die!  Jesus said to follow him we must give up everything!

But the kingdom gives us infinitely more than what we give up.  In Matthew 19:27-29, Jesus said, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  Those who leave all to follow Christ will receive spiritual riches and eternal life.

Eternal life means more than never dying.  Having life means more than just being alive, at least life in the biblical sense.  Life in the biblical sense is life in communion with God.  It’s life in loving communion with other people.  It’s having joy and peace. 

The kingdom of God is like a treasure in a field and a priceless pearl.  It’s worth giving up everything to get.  What about you?  Have you given up all to gain more than you ever gave up?  Have you received eternal life?  If not, deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Christ, and enter his kingdom!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God's Dynamite: The Battle Within

Image
"It was on fire when I lay down on it."  Robert Fulghum wrote about reading this statement in a small town newspaper.   Smoke was billowing from a second story window.  The Fire Department arrived, broke down the front door, ran up a set of stairs, and pulled a man off a burning bed.  Later, when they asked him how he got in that predicament, he said, "It was on fire when I lay down on it." Why on earth did he do that?  We don't know, but his story reveals a human truth.  We often do self-destructive things.  We testify, "People told me not to do it, but I did it anyway."  "I knew it was wrong, but I did it." The apostle Paul wrote about our human propensity to sin and self-destructive behavior in Romans 7:14-25.  Verse 15 sums up his point, "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do and what I hate I do."   He describes an intense inner battle.  On one side is the "flesh," his
Read more

God's Dynamite:Being in Your Right Mind

Image
What's your frame of mind today?  In this time of pandemic and shutdown, you may be worried or bored or pessimistic or lonely or depressed. Or all the above! What determines your frame of mind?  Is it your circumstances? Your will? Is your frame of mind molded by what's going on at the moment, or can you reshape it? The apostle Paul talked about our minds in Romans 8:1ff.  He said that can determine what we set our minds to.  We can focus our minds on following our lower natures or the Holy Spirit who lives inside us.   A fact that should help our frame of mind is that we're God's children.  In a sense, everyone is God's child.  God made all of us.  But in a spiritual sense, we fully become God's children when we put our faith in Christ and follow him.   We're not his children because we're better than others.  We're his children because we've put our faith in Christ and followed him.   As his children, we have status.  H
Read more

God's Dynamite: Resurrection Transformation

Image
Easter is about more than you going to heaven.  That's part of it, but not near all!  It's about your death and resurrection. In Romans 6, Paul was answering opponents.  Those opponents said that if salvation is by God's grace through faith, then you have no motivation for righteous living and good works.  Why not sin more to get more grace? Paul answered by using the image of baptism.  He said when the pastor plunged you under water, he symbolized your death in Christ.  Through faith you died on the cross with Jesus.  Your old self was a slave to sin and rebellion against God.   Paul said when the pastor raised you up from the water, he symbolized your resurrection in Christ.  Not just in the future but in the present.  In faith, you identify with Jesus' death and his resurrection.  You're raised to a new life, free from slavery to sin. So Easter is about more than personal salvation.  It's about transformation: dying to an old life and ris
Read more