The phone’s misplaced. A mini-computer loaded with personal dates, numbers, and important information is missing.
This sudden irritation brings about . . . a frantic search.
The moment of realization that something of value is missing brings about a halt of less important activity and heightens a new direction to find the lost item.
Change occurs.
After crisis, a cancer diagnosis, scheduled chemo treatments, scheduled surgery, or crashing disappointment, hurt and pain, there is realization of a loss—peace and security have disappeared. Crisis brings about search for answers.
Questions flood the intellect and emotions are restless.
I remember sitting in the infusion chair receiving my first chemo treatment. God sent a friend who gave me a story about a pearl merchant searching for precious pearls.
When this pearl merchant finally found a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought the precious pearl.
He didn’t hesitate to pay full price. He sacrificed all for its possession.
“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” Matthew 13:45-46.
We quickly think, “This is a Bible story.” The merchant must be people searching for God. Jesus is the Pearl of great worth.
And when we, merchants searching for God find Jesus, the most worthy pearl, we give God our heart to receive His amazing grace. We lay down our lives to follow Him.
But wait.
The picture can be drawn completely different. In a time of crisis, when searching grows deeper, there’s discovery of an entirely new picture to this parable.
What if Jesus is the merchant looking for fine pearls?
We don’t feel fine.
An irritated grain of sand in an oyster is the beginning of the making of a pearl.
The oyster surrounds the irritant with a covering. Over a process of time the crystalline covering hardens and creates a pearl.
Jesus is the merchant. He searches to and fro.
When He finds us seeking Him with an open heart, He reveals Himself.
We awaken to His sacrifice.
He gave up His life.
In our pain and suffering, we become fully aware,
He suffered for us.
Broken, hurting people irritated by grains of sand, sin, and pain, receive a covering of His grace. Jesus re-creates us into a pearl.
Jesus makes beauty from irritants and sins. He covers us in His righteousness, as we search for Him.
“. . . to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair”
Isaiah 61:2,3.
Viewed as a pearl of great price, yes, of course, our Jesus.
But Jesus’ view of us, precious and covered in His love and delight,
His covering brings, beauty out of pain, peace and rest.
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