MESSAGE FROM DR WILSON LIM

SOLD OUT FOR THE BEST

It has been a long time. A very long time. Many years had been spent looking, searching for this one thing. And now, it is in the palm of his hands. The largest he had ever seen. Its perfect symmetry and brilliant lustre that revealed its true value. Its perfectly smooth surface reflected his face. The price was very expensive but not nearly worth its true value.

A pearl of exquisite quality! Immediately, the merchant sold everything he had to buy it.

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When Jesus told this parable (Matt 13:45-46), He emphasized that the Kingdom of God was like that merchant who found the pearl of great price and sold everything he had in order to buy it. What was the point that Jesus was making?

Seek

The merchant was looking for a pearl of great value. He found it because he was first seeking for it. Jesus was referring to those who sought the Kingdom of God. This is not about finding salvation but seeking all that the Kingdom of God represents. Gaining eternal salvation is but the first important step in experiencing all that the Kingdom of God represents.

We should ask ourselves: are we seeking only our personal gain, even life thereafter? Or are we seeking the Kingdom of God first (Matt 6:33)? The desire to seek, the heart to find will drive us towards the very heart of God.

Those who genuinely seek God’s priorities will find it. And they seek because they realise its value.




Recognise

The merchant recognised a pearl of great value. This is a critical point. Recognition. We must learn to recognise what the Kingdom of God is like. Surely, the Kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy (Rom 14:17). The things of the Kingdom reflect God’s character.

We must learn to recognise how great the value of the Kingdom if. I seek the Kingdom of God because I realise that nothing else can compare to it on earth.

If we can only grasp the glory, the beauty of the Kingdom of God – we would eagerly anticipate its coming fullness. We would eagerly seek to participate in its establishment.

Invest

The merchant invested everything he had to purchase the pearl of great value. For he understood that he had just made a wise investment. For even all that he had, paled in comparison to the true value of the pearl. In the same way, everything that we are and could ever be by ourselves, cannot compare to the surpassing greatness of the glory that awaits us who are faithful in Christ.

Nothing we could ever be involved in humanly speaking, can even compare with the purposes of the Kingdom of God.



That is why I am willing to forsake all in order that I may be found in Christ. I am willing to forsake all my earthly ambitions to gain Kingdom ambitions.

I want to invest everything in the Kingdom because its returns simply blow my mind! That is why I seek with all my heart to participate in the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. It is the greatest task one can be involved in.

That is why I pour my life into building God’s Church.

Perhaps you could consider the example of the wise merchant and see whether you are investing in the best investment ever. The greater your investment, the greater the heavenly returns. Jesus promised in Matt 19:29 that those who have made great sacrifices for the Kingdom will be rewarded a hundred fold.

I think about the sacrifices of many amongst our midst to care for and nurture others. To pioneer new works in outlying areas, often with great sacrifices. I commend them because they have found the great pearl and have invested in it whole-heartedly.

Let us join our hearts together to build God’s Church, God’s Kingdom. Are you willing to sell all so that you may be sold out, for the best? A Kingdom-seeker,

Dr. Wilson Lim
Chairman of Hope Oceania churches