The Kingdom of Heaven—Worth Everything!
At some houses of worship, there is much music, much hand clapping, many instruments, voices lifted up in praise, and hands raised in adoration for the King of kings. That’s the way it is each time my brothers and sisters in Christ come together for corporate worship at the house of worship where my husband and I have chosen to attend. However, it has not always been that way—a hand-raising, loud-music-playing, hip swaying type of place.
What Changed?
We Did!
The children of the Father—changed from the inside out, becoming private worshippers, Spirit-led worshippers, heart-felt worshippers—to become—out loud, tambourine playing, dancing, voice raising PRAISERS of the LORD—CHRISTIANS—GOD’S CHILDREN!
- The change began in our hearts!
- Individual Hearts Touched by the Savior!
- Sinners Saved by the Grace of Almighty God!
- Those Who Once Were Lost But Now Are Found!
Today, may we ponder the question:
What are we willing to let go of to obtain the field (the treasure: the kingdom of heaven) where our treasure is buried?
JESUS said:
(Matthew 13: 44 NASB)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.”
Let’s unpack the four parts of this verse—backward.
4—“and buys that field”—
Consider our death and the sale that will occur after our death (an estate sale). If you have ever attended one, then you will know the way strangers come to a large tent set up in a field, and underneath the tent is everything the deceased ever owned. The owner is now dead, and we should notice that the one who has died has taken nothing with him into his eternal place. He died and left it all behind him. See what JESUS said—
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
(Matthew 6: 20-21 NASB)
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- May we check our hearts.
- May we see where we are laying up our treasures while we are alive on this earth.
3—“and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has,”—
There was a time in history when the children of God lived in captivity; in fact, some babies were born into slavery. Moses was such a child and so was his sister Miriam. A time came when Pharoah decreed that all the male babies born would be killed, and Miriam feared for her little brother’s life, so she helped her mother Jochebed to hide baby Moses in a basket on the river within the bulrushes. Then big sister Miriam took up watch, keeping an eye on her little brother as he floated there in his little basket. When Pharoah’s daughter came to bath herself one day, she discovered the small baby Moses, and in that moment, Miriam had a decision to make—step out or remain quiet and allow her brother Moses to be killed. She did the brave and courageous action; she convinced Pharoah’s daughter to keep the baby Moses and to take him back to the palace with her. Not only that, but Miriam also convinced Pharoah’s daughter to allow a nursemaid, a mom, to nurse Moses until he was grown. It truly amazes me how God provides for everything! Moses’ own mother, Jochebed, nursed him as he grew into a young man, even while living there in the Egyptian Pharoah’s palace—the captor of the captives!
There came a day when God spoke to Moses to lead God’s children out of captivity and get this: Moses’ 85-year-old sister Miriam grabbed her tambourine as if she knew there would be singing and dancing once they reached their freedom. SHE WAS SO RIGHT! See what MOSES said—
“Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, [and Moses’ sister] took the tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with the tambourines and with dancing.
(Exodus 15: 20-21 NASB)
And Miriam answered them,
“Sing to the LORD for He
is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He
has hurled into the sea.”
- We are never too young to follow God!
- We are never too old to follow God!
Lord, help us to find our tambourines and dance for YOU on dry land. Help us be ready to give a witness for YOU. Never let us forget the JOY of YOUR SALVATION!
2—“which a man found and hid again;”—
There are numerous gifts of the Holy Spirit that a Christian can receive, and while one gift is not more important or greater in need than the other gift, the gift received and unused within the believer’s life is truly great sadness. HOWEVER, the spiritual gift that the Holy Spirit reveals to a believer, the gift that manifests itself within the believer’s life, the gift hidden deep within the believer’s heart is truly a great & beautiful treasure. See what the apostle Paul said—
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 NASB)
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.”
There is only one true God!
Jehovah Jireh—our provider!
Emmanuel—God With Us!
There are so many names for the One we give our hearts to, for the One we serve, but there is one solitary purpose for which the Holy Spirit of God gives to believers a spiritual gift—We are to LOVE as JESUS LOVED!
“And if I give all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”
(1 Corinthians 13: 3 NASB)
1—“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field,”—
When we become a believer in Jesus, it is a private experience, one that we walk alone & a journey where we privately enjoy God’s presence deep within our hearts; however the kingdom of heaven is an open field of believers (a congregation of God’s children) constantly growing, constantly praising, spiritually maturing, forever serving within the unity of Christ. See what JESUS said—
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
(Matthew 13: 45-46 NASB)
and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.”
To harvest a pearl buried deep within the sea creature, the mollusk must be opened. When it is opened, the mollusk is killed. Think about it: one giving its life as “the way” to reveal the GREAT VALUE of THAT WHICH WAS INSIDE. When someone gives his heart to Jesus, that is exactly what he finds—a treasure of great value. Consider what Jesus Christ the Savior of the world had to do to prepare “the way” for humanity to come to know Him. Jesus had to give His life upon the cross of Calvary!
CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
- for you to come to know God! &
- for me to come to know God!
The kingdom of heaven!
Those who have inherited the place reserved by God are “changed” individuals!
What Changed?
We Did!
We Changed from the inside—out!
JESUS CHRIST MADE US BRAND NEW!
- The children of the Father—changed from the inside out!
- We became private worshippers, Spirit-led worshippers!
God changed our hearts, causing us to openly worship—out loud, tambourine playing, dance-filled, voice raising PRAISERS to the LORD—CHRISTIANS!
GOD’S CHILDREN—We are a force to be reckoned with on this earth we call our temporary home!
May we NEVER FORGET!
- The change began in our hearts!
- Individual Hearts Touched by the Savior!
- Sinners Saved by the Grace of Almighty God!
- Those Who Once Were Lost But Now Are Found!
- Andrew Ripp sings the melody “For the Love of God” that shouts what I am attempting to write. Please grab your earbuds, stand up, twirl, lift your hands, and praise the LORD!
- “Hallelujah for the LOVE of GOD!”