Children's Bible Ministry of Connecticut, USA

A Previous Message

The Pearl of Great Price

Pearls, sometimes called the Queen of Gems, have been known and used as jewelry for more than six thousand years. Although classified as gems pearls are not actually minerals. They are made from living things, namely, mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.). Pearls are the abnormal growth from a mollusk trying to protect itself from the irritation of a particle of sand or shell. Bothered by this foreign particle the mollusk begins to coat it with layer upon layer of a substance called nacre. Thus a pearl is formed and begins to grow.

The pearl is thus the only jewel formed by an injury to a  living thing. Pearls, unlike, other gems, must be left undivided and uncut to keep their value.

Cleopatra of Egypt is said to have given Marc Antony of Rome the most expensive banquet in history. In a glass of vinegar on an empty plate she crushed and dissolved a large pearl and drank it. She offered him the same drink, which he refused. The suggested cost of the two pearls by today's standard was more than nine million dollars ($9,000,000)!

...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

God speaks of His Body, the Church, made up of all those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their only God and Saviour from sin. Here it is likened to a pearl of great price. The Lord Jesus emptied Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2). He gave His very life to purchase a people out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Revelation 5:9). Thus the Church, His Body, is formed by way of an injury to the Son of God. He begins to build His Church, not all at once, but in layers, over centuries of time, starting with the apostles and right up to today. We who have believed are the outermost layer of His Church. When His Pearl is complete He will take it to Himself--Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church. . .

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy Bride.
With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died.
                                                                    --Samuel J. Stone

What a blessed privilege to belong to the ever living, ever loving Lord!

Have you placed your whole trust in Him and Him alone for your soul's salvation?

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.                                                  Acts 4:12