Christian Living

---

Gloria J. Bell, Ph.D.
19009-116 S. Laurel Park Rd.
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
562-665-4683
Word Count 1,032

The Price of a Pearl
Immediately recognized for its unique beauty by people of all cultures, to this day, the pearl remains one of the most sought-after gems the world over. The only gemstone to be produced by a living entity, this treasure is the gift of shell fish that resemble, but are actually larger than, oysters.
The life of a pearl begins as an intruding irritant swept into the body of the oyster through its sea water filters when feeding. To protect itself from such irritants, the shell lining of the oyster immediately initiates an intricate and layered process that encapsulates the irritant with a thin tissue substance. The microscopic layers of this iridescent substance finally isolate this irritant and form the beginnings of a pearl. The process is repeated every time a new parasitic worm, grain of sand, or any kind of irritating infiltrator drills its way inside the mollusk’s shell. Thus one shell fish may produce many pearls. It all starts from the adversity caused by an intruder in the body of a shell fish. However, the beauty that comes forth from that adversity is no less than art of great value.
While speaking before thousands, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price in two parables. In the first parable, found in Matthew 13:44, a man discovers a precious pearl hidden in a field and sells all that he owns to purchase the field. In the second parable, found in the very next verse, a merchant who deliberately sought beautiful pearls found a pearl of great price and sold all he had to purchase it. There’s nothing they wouldn’t give freely and joyfully for their find. They realized the value of a pearl and went to whatever length necessary to secure its possession.
We all go through times when we are crushed by misfortune, distressed by life’s disappointments, betrayed by circumstances powered by others. Being unemployed far beyond the leniency of creditors, repeated failure, even death or divorce, or threatening disease have pressed us through the filters of tribulation like evil agitators purposefully threatening our very life. Yet during those most devastating periods, God commissions his ministering spirits, mighty heavenly angels, to cover us with a coating of comfort and God hides us under His banner of spiritual protection that we might know His love never fails.1
The value to our Christian growth is created and revealed by adversity. Layers of precious promises from God’s Word and coatings of Holy Spirit power within, cover the very situations meant to destroy us, and bring us out better, not bitter.2 They transform us from what we are to what we will be to fulfill His greater purpose. Like the oyster, we learn to recognize that God is in full control during the most trying life events engulfing us. Recognizing their transformational value, we can embrace these experiences for the beauty they shall produce through the power of God that works in us.
Our challenge is to learn to fold our cares into His will knowing that another layer of development in our Christian walk will ultimately give greater value to our life for service. What the natural eye sees as devastation may actually be times of purifying agitation. The time may be ripe for a shearing and a shedding; so that the much needed introspection can produce true heart conversion and character transformation. Job equated the refining experience to the smelting of gold in Job 23:10, but He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. In each of us are cherished hindrances in our spirit and character that must be cast off as obstructions to the iridescent glow of true beauty and spiritual power within.
If we could visualize our trials expanding the borders of our ministering usefulness and our tribulations increasing our faith potential for our next level of ministry, then the most bitter of our experiences will be seen from a much different perspective.3 Just when there seems to be no reason for or end to our worst of times, the spirit of God will assure us, trust me, there is a bigger plan. We can be certain that God covers us when we can do nothing for ourselves. When we look back over our life in Christ, we will have cause to praise God for blessing us far beyond what we could have asked or thought.4
The refining process does not end with the small picture of life here on earth. God is producing pearls for His kingdom. Revelation 21:21 tells us, the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate is of one pearl. Each gate in the kingdom of heaven represents and is in recognition of the sum total of every trial overcome and victory over temptation, every tear from sorrow and death endured, every disease encountered and failure experienced. Each time we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, another pearl is revealed. The righteousness of God is revealed in us from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.5 Each time we allow faith and patience to do their perfect work, God is re-imaging our character for the Kingdom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.6
Encompassing all our victories, the gates of pearl represent the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ who became sin for us who knew no sin.7 Each gate is one massive pearl representing victory over sin and Satan through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. His unspeakable glory and honor, the intrinsic worth and value of His life and death, came at a price we’ll forever seek to comprehend. During good times and bad, may we spend time contemplating what his invaluable gift of salvation means to us and what we would be willing to endure for Jesus, the pearl of great price, and to be transformed into his glorious image for the kingdom of God.









1 Song of Solomon 2:4, 1 Corinthians 13:8
2 Genesis 50:20
3 Ephesians 4:11-16
4 Ephesians 3:20
5 . Romans 1:17
6 2 Corinthians 3:18
7 2 Corinthians 5:21

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE