Over the Moon

*Over the Moon*

"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

Several years ago, NASA gave each of the fifty United States a special gift
- a small rock from the moon. Now it turns out many states have lost
them. Arkansas has looked for years for the valuable lunar rock, which
came from the Apollo 17 mission. It was finally discovered in a small
plastic box among the papers of former governor Bill Clinton. The rocks
are priceless; but unless they're found, they are worthless.

The Bible teaches that the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great
price. We are given this precious pearl when we are saved and it is abides
within us. But we must always cherish and value our relationship with
Christ, and be faithful with all that is entrusted to us. In exchange
for this priceless pearl, it costs us everything. We give Him our souls,
our possessions, our faith, our future, our goals, our habits, our dreams,
even our families and friends. Jesus Christ told the multitudes that
half-heartedly wanted to follow Him - "If any man come to me, and hate not
his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth
not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. So likewise,
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple" (Luke 14:26,27,33).

The beauty of forsaking all to gain this precious pearl is that we become
infinitely and eternally richer in the process. When Peter said to the
Lord, "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee," Jesus responded, "Verily I
say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall
not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come
life everlasting" (Luke 18:28-30). Let's remember not to be careless with
our pearl of great price. Don't misplace, neglect, hide, or ignore the
kingdom of God and its calling in your life. God rewards the faithful
servants who are working in His vineyard with a bounty of blessings, first
in this life and then superabundantly more in the life to come.

*I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a
crown. (George Bennard)*