Wednesday, November 19, 2014

November 20, 2014

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “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 13:44-46

Like the other parables, these two are short stories long in truths!

Over the past several posts I have been unpacking some of those truths. Today I want to explore others.

First, there is the calling.

Jesus came to call you out of the world and into His Kingdom.

He calls you out of your darkness into His light.

He calls you out of your bondage into His freedom.

He calls you out of your lostness into His love.

He calls you out of your guilt into His grace!

He calls you out of your fear and into His faith!

He calls you out of your shame and into Himself!

He saw you as a lost treasure buried under your sins and the sinfulness of this world!

Second, there is the cost.

It might surprise you to realize that not even God can have it all! He had to give His Son in order to gain you!

He declared that, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin."

The price to atone for Adam's sin was the sacrificial death of the Second Adam, Jesus Christ the Son of God! Because you had been sold out you had to be bought back with a price. When you deserved God's justice He gave you His mercy. Rather than His judgment, He dispensed His grace!

You were able to receive His righteousness because he received your judgment on the cross.

Think about it, if God couldn't have it all without paying a price what makes you think you can?

Third, there is a condition.

You must answer His call to leave your kingdom and come into His.

You can't remain in the kingdom of darkness.

You can't construct your own kingdom.

You must renounce your pride, your self-dependence and your self-deception and humbly submit to His Sovereignty! You must cash out your self-righteousness, sell out your rebellion and buy into to a relationship with Him by faith!

To buy into His kingdom you must sell out in yours!