Missing the Treasure

An Associated Press story a few years ago told of a man in Texas who purchased a 1,905-carat sapphire at a gem show for $10.00.  How?  He bypassed the professional dealers and went to an area where the amateur dealers were displaying their merchandise.  He found the stone in a box of rocks priced at $15.00.  He realized that the rock was valuable and inquired about it.  The dealer cut the price to $10.00!  
The purchase was made.  The sapphire was later appraised at $2.28 million!*

The uncut sapphire probably passed through the hands of many people before someone finally recognized its value.  Everyone would love to have an opportunity to purchase a sapphire for a fraction of its worth.  The problem is that many of us would not recognize it, even if we held it in our hand.

Today, many fail to recognize a treasure far more valuable than sapphires. It is well within their grasp (Acts 17:24-28), yet they do not realize its WORTH. That treasure
is "eternal life"  in an "eternal kingdom" -- the kingdom of heaven!

"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.  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 13:44-46).

The kingdom came at a tremendous price - the death of Jesus, the Son of God.  He purchased the kingdom (the church) with His own BLOOD (Acts 20:28).  Through 
this purchase, He also provides a way for YOU and ME to become a part of His glorious kingdom – to walk as citizens of this heavenly kingdom NOW (Colossians 1:12-13) AND to inherit the kingdom at His appearance (Matthew 25:31-34, 1Corinthians 15:50-55).

ALL those who submit to the King are added to His kingdom (see Acts 2:41, 47).  In order to be added to the kingdom, one must trust in Jesus (Acts 16:31),
repent of sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  The King has decreed, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of WATER and the SPIRIT [a reference to baptism], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

This treasure of being a part of a glorious, eternal kingdom is available to ALL who will submit to the King.  Yet, so many miss this "treasure"  because they do not recognize its worth.  Please don't make that mistake!

"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, AND….. you will receive a rich welcome into the "eternal kingdom"  of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 
(2 Peter 1:10-11).

God bless you.

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695  

* Mike Johnson

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