What Price Salvation?

Recently God has been speaking to me about my salvation path and how it was unique from any other, just as yours was. The thing God has shown me which I had completely forgotten was that unlike many people I actually made an offer to Him. I told Him that I didn't care about my job, or money or anything in this life, all I wanted was the truth and to serve Him. In trying to understand why God has allowed me to suffer so much He showed me that He took this offer at face value, I soon lost my job under the strangest of circumstances and my health deteriorated.

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.
Matthew 13:45-46 (KJV)

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.
Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

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.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 (KJV)

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.
Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)

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:
Luke 15:22 (KJV)

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.