You are the pearl!

September 29, 2022

From Jim Hundertmark

Greetings MAC Family!

If you’ve already heard this story from me in the past few days, I apologize, but I believe the importance of what I’m about to share bears repeating.

There are many things that humans find valuable. A fisherman in the Philippines found something that we all would likely consider to be of value, a pearl. Because it was different from anything he had seen before he brought it home and placed it under his bed for over 10 years - hoping it would bring him good luck. The irony of the story is that he didn’t know what he had. The pearl he found was over 34 kg - that’s over 75 lbs - and is valued at over $100,000,000!

Even in Christ’s time, pearls were of value. In Matthew 13:45-46 Christ said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

I’ve read those verses so many times in my life, and until recently always understood them one way - the kingdom of heaven is precious, like a pearl of great value. But that’s not what Christ said! Look at the verses again. The kingdom of heaven is like a…

MERCHANT…

The kingdom of heaven isn’t the pearl, it’s the merchant.

So that begs the question, who’s the valuable pearl? It’s you and me! In Our Father Cares, page 74, Ellen White says, “The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift.” That sounds exactly like Matthew 13:45-46! God is searching for goodly pearls and He has already gave up everything by giving us His Son so that we can be with Him for eternity. What incredible love!

Whatever you’re facing today, remember that you are the pearl in the story!

Blessings!

Principal H