For the last several thousand years, the “pearl” is a gem that has been sought after for its lustrous color and its lasting value. Pearls have been traded and adorned by the wealthiest – giving distinction to the wearer. Many divers have perished while diving to depths of 120+ feet to search for oysters that would hold the most precious of gems.
But did you know that the pearl is the only gem that is created by a living creature? Gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, and other precious stones are all mined out of the ground. However, the pearl is harvested from the sacrificial oyster. The oyster goes through an agonizing process of secreting nacre around a foreign body within its body (such as a grain of sand) to smooth the rough edges. In time, the end result of layers of nacre being formed around the foreign body produces a pearl.
In the Scriptures we find that Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths. In Matthew 13:45-46 Jesus used the value of a great pearl as a metaphor to describe the essence of the kingdom of heaven. For He stated,
“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.”
But the great pearl that was being spoken of was not one produced by an oyster – it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Christ had to agonize on that old Roman cross and to suffer the pains of death to produce the “Great Pearl” of the resurrection.
Each one of us needs to understand that this “Great Pearl” of Jesus Christ was very costly – for it is so precious.
Romans 5:8 states,
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 states,
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 Peter 1:18-19 states,
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
In John 11:25 Jesus stated,
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
And John 3:16 states,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Resurrection unto eternal life is the greatest pearl of great price that we could ever receive.
The Scriptures also teach that the only way that we will ever be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven is that we must first recognize how precious the gift of eternal life [the Great Pearl of Jesus Christ] is. We must also realize that we can’t live without it. But there is a stark difference between obtaining a costly “pearl” sold on the open market and obtaining the “Great Pearl” of Jesus Christ. The pearl produced by an oyster could cost you a fortune to obtain. The “Great Pearl” produced by Jesus Christ can only be received through repentance and faith, and as a gift – for, again, it has already been paid for.
Romans 6:23 states,
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
And Ephesians 2:8-9 states,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
When we receive the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ, we have now obtained the “Great Pearl” of great price, a gem of magnificent luster and beauty, and a priceless adornment – for now we are of the wealthiest. If you haven’t done so, seek the Great Pearl of price – Jesus Christ. But if you have received the “Great Pearl” – Jesus Christ – through faith, now is the time to lead others to also receive the “Great Pearl” of everlasting life.
