What Price Salvation?
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a
merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had
found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that
he had, and bought it. Like the widow offered her last mite (Mark 12:43-44) I offered everything I had to God, and in His wisdom He took me up on my offer. After the reality of this revelation set in for a few moments I was moved to tears and began praising God. I told Him "Lord, I got the best part of the bargain!". Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also. The truth of the matter is that I took Him up on his offer! I traded my weak, carnal flesh for a new body, a few sticks of furniture and other ultimately worthless things for eternal riches that will never be lost or stolen. I did get the best of the bargain! Not only did I give up physical things but I gave up spiritual things, specifically sin. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not
only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and
of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If
a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a
vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the
master's use, and prepared unto every good work. The point of this story is not to brag in any way, my righteousness is as filthy rags, that is not false modesty I mean that. The only good you see in me is Jesus Christ. I really don't like sharing my personal matters, it is only because I felt God telling me it would help some of you out there that I've shared it here. So here is my point. The great people of the Bible gave everything they had, but what they got was so much more. Think of men like Job, the prodigal son, the widow and her mite and many others. If you are like me and refuse to settle for being anything less than a vessel of gold, a vessel of honor, if you want everything God had available for you, then you must be willing to give up everything you have for Him. You make this decision in your heart. In my case I gave up actual physical things, but I got so much in return! But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade
as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken
us away. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his
hand, and shoes on his feet: At first some of us thought we were giving up something when we came to Christ, those besetting sins that captured our imaginations. But all we were really doing is giving up filthy rags and exchanging them for the finest robe! Do you want everything God has for you? Are you holding on to something of this world or a sin that has you enslaved? Jesus gave everything for you, won't you put it down for Him? The lesson of 2 Timothy 2:19-21 is clear. We can be vessels of Honor if we give up our sins. God will not clothe us in white until we cast off our filthy rags. ![]() Blog comments powered by Disqus |
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