JESUS THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

JESUS CHRIST — MY PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, MY BELOVED, AND MY ALL

Good morning, dear friends!

Oh, what joy fills my heart this morning!

Oh, what a testimony I have to tell!

There is a Friend I have found!

There is a Treasure I have discovered!

There is a Pearl of Great Price that my soul has laid hold upon!

There is One whose beauty cannot be described, whose worth cannot be measured, whose love cannot be exhausted, and whose grace cannot be fathomed! Oh what a testimony I have for you dear friends!!

His name is JESUS!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

I am speaking of no ordinary friend.

I am speaking of the Friend of sinners!

I am speaking of the One who loved me when I did not love Him.

The One who sought me when I was lost.

The One who called me when I was wandering.

The One who found me when I could not find my way.

The One who lifted me when I was fallen.

The One who washed me when I was defiled.

The One who forgave me when I was guilty.

The One who gave me life when I was dead in trespasses and sins.

I am speaking about Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God! “This is my beloved, and this is my friend.” — Song of Solomon 5:16 KJV

Oh, what a Friend!

What a Friend!

What a Friend I have found in Jesus!

He is more precious than silver.

He is more valuable than gold.

He is more beautiful than the fairest jewel.

He is more satisfying than all the pleasures of this world.

He is more enduring than earthly riches.

He is more faithful than the dearest earthly companion.

And if the whole world were laid at my feet, I would still cry: "Give me Jesus!"

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

— Mark 8:36 KJV

Oh, my beloved Jesus!

I have found Him to be my Treasure!

I have found Him to be my Pearl!

I have found Him to be my Shepherd!

I have found Him to be my Rock!

I have found Him to be my Refuge!

I have found Him to be my Peace!

I have found Him to be my Joy!

I have found Him to be my Life!

And when I speak of Him, I am not merely speaking of something I have read about.

I am speaking of Someone whom my soul has come to know.

THE CRY OF A HUNGRY SOUL

There was a time when my heart was searching.

My soul was crying.

My spirit was longing.

I wanted a true Friend.

I wanted someone who could understand the deepest cries of my heart.

I wanted someone who could see my tears when nobody else saw them.

I wanted someone who could hear the prayer that I could not put into words.

I wanted someone who would remain when everybody else had gone away.

I wanted someone who could love me—not because I was worthy, but because He was merciful.

I wanted someone who could give me something this world could never give.

I wanted rest for my soul!

I wanted peace!

I wanted forgiveness!

I wanted eternal life!

And my soul cried out!

As the psalmist said:

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”

— Psalm 42:1 KJV

Oh, there was a thirst inside me that education could not quench.

There was a hunger inside me that religion could not satisfy.

There was an emptiness inside me that family could not fill. There was a cry inside me that human friendship could not answer.

I searched here.

I searched there.

I looked for satisfaction.

I looked for happiness.

I looked for meaning.

But the more I searched in earthly things, the more I discovered that earthly things could never satisfy an eternal soul.

For the human heart was made for God!

And nothing less than God Himself can satisfy it.

RELIGION COULD TELL ME ABOUT HIM, BUT ONLY CHRIST COULD SAVE ME

Religion knew something about Him.

Education could teach me something about Him.

People could tell me something about Him.

But knowing about Christ is not the same thing as knowing Christ.

I needed more than information.

I needed revelation.

I needed more than religion.

I needed redemption.

I needed more than ceremony.

I needed salvation.

I needed more than the knowledge of His name.

I needed Christ Himself!

And then came that glorious day!

Oh, I shall never forget that day!

A day written upon the pages of my heart!

A day when, by the grace of God, I heard the simple Gospel preached.

Not the Gospel of human achievement.

Not the Gospel of human righteousness.

Not the Gospel of self-improvement.

But the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, buried, risen again, and coming again!

I heard that salvation was not in religion.

Salvation was not in education.

Salvation was not in my family.

Salvation was not in my good works.

Salvation was not in my own righteousness.

Salvation was in Jesus Christ!

Hallelujah!

“For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

— Acts 4:12 KJV

There is only one Saviour!

There is only one Redeemer!

There is only one Mediator!

There is only one Way!

Jesus Christ!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

— John 14:6 KJV

Oh, blessed be His holy name!

I FOUND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!

Then I understood something.

I understood what the Lord Jesus meant when He said:

“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

Oh, I found the Pearl!

I found the Treasure!

And when I found Jesus, I discovered that everything else was fading compared with Him.

What is the world without Christ?

What are riches without Christ?

What is education without Christ?

What is religion without Christ?

What is success without Christ?

What is pleasure without Christ?

What is life without Christ?

It is emptiness!

But Christ!

Oh, Christ!

Christ is fullness!

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

— Colossians 2:9 KJV

In Him there is forgiveness!

In Him there is mercy!

In Him there is grace!

In Him there is peace!

In Him there is righteousness!

In Him there is redemption!

In Him there is eternal life!

In Him there is hope!

In Him there is resurrection!

In Him there is glory!

Everything my soul needed was found in Him!

COME UNTO ME!

And then I heard the gracious invitation of my Saviour:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28 KJV

Oh, what an invitation!

He did not say, "Make yourself perfect and then come." He did not say, "Clean yourself up and then come."

He said:

COME UNTO ME!

Are you weary?

Come unto Him!

Are you burdened?

Come unto Him!

Are you broken?

Come unto Him!

Are you guilty?

Come unto Him!

Are you thirsty?

Come unto Him!

Are you hungry?

Come unto Him!

Are you lost?

Come unto Him!

Are you searching for peace?

Come unto Him!

Are you longing for eternal life?

Come unto Him!

For Jesus said:

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

— John 6:37 KJV

Glory to God!

He will not cast you out!

The world may reject you.

People may forsake you.

Friends may turn away.

But Jesus says:

“I will in no wise cast out.”

THE GOSPEL CAME NEAR

And then I understood the glorious words of Romans chapter ten: “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.”

— Romans 10:8 KJV

I did not have to climb into heaven.

I did not have to descend into the deep.

The Word came near.

The Gospel came near.

Christ came near.

And faith came by hearing!

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

— Romans 10:17 KJV

And what did I hear?

I heard that Jesus Christ had died for sinners.

I heard that He was buried.

I heard that He rose again.

I heard that He was alive!

And I heard the glorious promise:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

— Romans 10:9 KJV

THOU SHALT BE SAVED!

Not, "thou mightest be saved."

Not, "perhaps thou shalt be saved."

But:

THOU SHALT BE SAVED!

Oh, what a Gospel!

Oh, what a promise!

Oh, what a Saviour!

SAVED BY GRACE!

And now I know that I am saved—not because I am worthy, but because He is worthy!

Not because I have earned salvation, but because He paid the price!

Not because I have kept myself, but because He keeps me!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

— Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Grace!

Amazing grace!

Saving grace!

Keeping grace!

Sustaining grace!

Abounding grace!

Oh, the grace of God!

When I was weak, grace was there.

When I was lost, grace sought me.

When I was guilty, grace forgave me.

When I was broken, grace restored me.

When I was sinking, grace lifted me.

When I was empty, grace filled me.

And when I reach the end of this earthly journey, it will still be grace that carries me home!

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

Oh, my friends, let me tell you about this Friend!

He is not a fair-weather friend.

He is not a friend who stays only when everything is going well.

He is not a friend who leaves when the storm comes.

He is not a friend who forsakes me in the night.

He is the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother!

“A friend loveth at all times.”

— Proverbs 17:17 KJV

And again:

“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

— Proverbs 18:24 KJV

That Friend is Jesus!

When I walk through the valley, He is there.

When I walk through the fire, He is there.

When I walk through the waters, He is there.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.”

— Isaiah 43:2 KJV

When the storm rises, He is there.

When the night becomes dark, He is there.

When my heart is broken, He is there.

When tears fall from my eyes, He is there.

When nobody understands, He understands!

When nobody hears, He hears!

When nobody sees, He sees!

When everybody else forsakes me, He remains faithful!

HE IS MY SHEPHERD

David said:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

— Psalm 23:1 KJV

Oh, what a Shepherd!

He leads me.

He feeds me.

He protects me.

He restores me.

He searches for me.

He carries me.

He watches over me.

And Jesus Himself declared:

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

— John 10:11 KJV

The Good Shepherd gave His life for me!

He did not merely speak about love.

He demonstrated love at Calvary!

He stretched forth His hands.

He bore the nails.

He endured the shame.

He carried my sin.

He shed His blood.

He died in my place.

And three days later—

HE ROSE AGAIN!

Hallelujah!

The grave could not hold Him!

Death could not conquer Him!

Hell could not defeat Him!

The stone could not imprison Him!

JESUS LIVES!

And because He lives:

I live!

Because He lives:

I have hope!

Because He lives:

I have eternal life!

Because He lives:

I shall live forever!

For He said:

“Because I live, ye shall live also.”

— John 14:19 KJV

I SHALL NEVER PERISH!

And this is where my heart rests.

My salvation is not resting upon my feelings.

My salvation is not resting upon the changing circumstances of my life.

My salvation is resting upon the finished work of Jesus Christ!

He said:

“It is finished.”

— John 19:30 KJV

Finished!

The price was paid!

The sacrifice was made!

The blood was shed!

The work was accomplished!

And now I trust Him!

I believe Him!

I rest in Him!

Jesus said:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

— John 10:28 KJV

Oh, glory!

THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH!

What a promise!

My confidence is not in myself.

My confidence is in His hand.

My righteousness is not my own.

My righteousness is Christ.

My hope is not in this world.

My hope is in Christ.

My life is not mine anymore.

I belong to Him!

WHAT SHALL SEPARATE ME FROM HIS LOVE?

The Apostle Paul cried:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

— Romans 8:35 KJV

And then he gives the answer:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 8:38–39 KJV

Oh, blessed assurance!

Nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus!

Not death.

Not life.

Not things present.

Not things to come.

Nothing! NOTHING!

For I am His.

And He is mine.

MY SOUL SHALL MAKE HER BOAST IN THE LORD

Therefore, I will not boast in myself.

I will not boast in my education.

I will not boast in my strength.

I will not boast in my goodness.

I will not boast in my accomplishments.

I will boast in my Saviour!

For the Scripture says:

“My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”

— Psalm 34:2 KJV

And again:

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

— Galatians 6:14 KJV

Oh, let me glory in the Cross!

Let me glory in the Blood!

Let me glory in the Resurrection!

Let me glory in the grace of God!

Let me glory in Jesus!

Jesus is enough!

Christ is enough!

His grace is enough!

His blood is enough!

His Word is enough!

His promises are enough!

His presence is enough!

His salvation is enough!

JESUS IS MY ALL IN ALL

Dear friends, I searched for a friend.

I found Jesus.

I searched for peace.

I found Jesus.

I searched for joy.

I found Jesus.

I searched for life.

I found Jesus.

I searched for forgiveness.

I found Jesus.

I searched for hope.

I found Jesus.

I searched for a treasure.

I found Jesus!

And now I can say:

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

— Psalm 73:25 KJV

He is my Treasure.

He is my Pearl.

He is my Shepherd.

He is my Rock.

He is my Refuge.

He is my Fortress.

He is my Shield.

He is my High Tower.

He is my Redeemer.

He is my Saviour.

He is my Lord.

He is my Friend.

He is my Beloved!

And He is my all in all!

ONE DAY I SHALL SEE HIM!

And, blessed be God, this journey shall not end here!

One day this mortal body shall put on immortality.

One day corruption shall put on incorruption.

One day faith shall become sight.

One day I shall see the One whom my soul loves!

For:

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

Oh, what a day!

What a glorious day!

When I shall see Jesus!

No more sorrow.

No more tears.

No more death.

No more pain.

No more separation.

No more night.

No more crying.

For:

“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.”

— Revelation 21:4 KJV

Then I shall behold my Beloved!

The One who saved me.

The One who kept me.

The One who loved me.

The One who died for me.

The One who rose for me.

The One who is coming again!

And I shall bow before Him and cry:

Worthy!

Worthy!

WORTHY IS THE LAMB!

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

— Revelation 5:12 KJV

SO LET ME TELL YOU OF MY FRIEND!

Dear friends, let me finish by saying this:

I have found the Friend my soul was looking for.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Treasure.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Pearl of Great Price.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Bread of Life.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Living Water.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Good Shepherd.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Resurrection and the Life.

His name is Jesus.

I have found the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

His name is Jesus.

Jesus!

Jesus!

Jesus!

There is power in His name!

There is salvation in His name!

There is forgiveness in His name!

There is hope in His name!

There is life in His name!

And there is no other name like His!

So if you ask me:

Who is your Friend?

I will say:

JESUS!

If you ask me:

Who is your Treasure?

I will say:

JESUS!

If you ask me:

Who is your Hope?

I will say:

JESUS!

If you ask me:

Who saved your soul?

I will say:

JESUS!

If you ask me:

Who will keep you until the end?

I will say:

JESUS!

And if you ask me:

Who will you love throughout eternity?

My answer will still be:

JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!

For:

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

— Hebrews 13:8 KJV

Therefore, my heart is settled.

My soul is satisfied.

My sins are forgiven.

My hope is secure.

My future is in His hands.

My life belongs to Him.

And my testimony shall ever be:

“I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.”

— Song of Solomon 6:3 KJV

Oh, precious Jesus!

Take my heart.

Take my life.

Take my all.

Let me live for Thee.

Let me suffer for Thee.

Let me labour for Thee.

Let me testify of Thee.

Let me praise Thee.

Let me worship Thee.

And when my earthly journey is over, let me hear Thy voice:

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Until that glorious day, I will keep my eyes upon Jesus.

I will keep trusting Jesus.

I will keep preaching Jesus.

I will keep loving Jesus.

I will keep following Jesus.

And I will keep telling everybody who will listen:

I HAVE FOUND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!

I HAVE FOUND THE TREASURE!

I HAVE FOUND MY BELOVED!

I HAVE FOUND MY FRIEND!

I HAVE FOUND JESUS CHRIST!

And having found Him,

I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN HIM.

For:

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

— Philippians 1:21 KJV

To Him be glory.

To Him be honour.

To Him be praise.

To Him be dominion.

To Him be worship.

To Him be thanksgiving.

To Him be all the glory, both now and for ever.

AMEN AND AMEN!

HALLELUJAH!

PRAISE THE LORD!

JESUS CHRIST IS MY TREASURE, MY BELOVED, MY FRIEND, MY SAVIOUR, AND MY ALL IN ALL!