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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.
David A. Sargent, Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*
Mike Johnson
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