The fall of man has created a perpetual crisis. It will last until sin has been put down and Christ reigns over a redeemed and restored world. Until that time the earth remains a disaster area and its inhabitants live in a state of extraordinary emergency. To me it has always been difficult to understand those evangelical Christians who insist upon living in the crisis as if no crisis existed. They say they serve the Lord, but they divide their days so as to leave plenty of time to play and loaf and enjoy the pleasures of the world as well. They are at ease while the world burns.
A.W. Tozer

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BBD 09.02.10 The Kingdom of Heaven (New)

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#1 · September 1, 2010, 10:58 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

 

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09.02.10

The Kingdom of Heaven


Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. - Luke 15:8-10.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. - Matthew 13:44. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful 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.

Picture the scene of ten or more professional football players, Miami Dolphins, down on their hands and knees out on the football field after practice is over. What are they doing? Are they sick? Are they exhausted? No, they are looking for an earring! Kendall Langford, a defensive player, lost one of his earrings during practice. You might think that they are silly to be trying to find an earring until you learn it has a 2.5 carat diamond and could be worth $50,000. The Dolphins use two practice fields, which makes it a large area that needs to be searched. No updates have been found so apparently the diamond is still out there somewhere. Not sure if Kendall is still crawling around looking for his earring or not. If we had lost a $50,000 earring, we would probably still be out in the grass looking for it too!

The coin in the parable of the ten silver coins is much more important and valuable to the woman than a 2.5 carat diamond. Many believe that the coin the woman lost was part of a wedding headdress and because of that the coin had great value not just as money but sentimentally too. The focus in the Parable of the Lost Coin is on the focus of Heaven. The Bible never talks about Heaven rejoicing over a new church facility, or a new church van, or a new church sign, or whatever of the material world. Heaven rejoices over people who are saved, who turn from their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. As Jesus says, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).” God has placed the emphasis on people and each person is of immense value to Him. You are of immense value to God.

In the parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price we see a different view. In these parables, the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl represent how valuable Heaven should be to us. The Kingdom of Heaven, having eternal life, is of such value that we should gladly give everything that we have and are to enter  it.

Is there anything in this world keeping you from receiving Jesus as your personal Savior? A relationship? A job? Money? Land? A house? Nothing of this world is of as much value as knowing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If there is anything preventing you from following Jesus, let it go. All of Heaven will rejoice when you call upon the Name of the Lord.

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