Finding a most valuable pearl

Yesterday, I wrote of Buried Treasure and as I walked by our bookcase, my eyes were drawn to a book I enjoyed several years ago: Buried Treasure: Hidden Wisdom from the Hebrew Language by Rabbi Daniel Lapin; I highly recommend it.  Hidden treasure is all around us and I hope you discover some today.


Jewels and pearls are found around the world.  In January, I found a most beautiful Madam Butterfly pearl strand in Singapore that would look lovely on my wife.  Its nacre in the light gave a irresistible iridescence. 

The same trip took us to Vietnam and to Ha Long bay.  We purchased a ticket to take a junk through thousands of karst and isles to see this UNESCO site and see a fishing village nestled in the core of these vertical rock formations. It is an amazing site to see with almost 2000 unique isles .  During our time on the junk, I purchased a long string of pearls after an even longer negotiation. They looked beautiful on my bride and will forever remind us of this wonderful place.


Now neither of these pearl strands were of great value or cost, but they hold memories that are valued and carried with us.  But Jesus Christ tells a story of another pearl.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt 13:45-46

I have never seen a pearl that moved me to such a place as this merchant; to sell everything and to go and buy it.  So my imagination must kick in to place; what about something else that you would sell everything to obtain.  The closest thing on earth I can think of is my wife; I would sell or lose everything that I might have her.  But Jesus says that even more is the Kingdom of Heaven and as hard as it might seem, I know that the Kingdom of Heaven is eternal verses temporal and is of higher value.  Though this might seem like I am placing my wife second, I would expect her to do the same with me (although I may not get such a high rating).  Though we have had over 30 wonderful years together, I know that our life together here on earth may only last another 30 or 40 more years; again, a dot on the time-line of eternity. 


I am of another kingdom, it is one that is now, but not yet.  Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection ushered in the Kingdom of God, but it will not fully realized and made complete until His glorious return.  As the sun rises each morning, it reminds me of the 'eschatological in-breaking' and what lies ahead.  I am Of Another Kingdom and I think of and belong in that Kingdom.

Searching for Buried Treasure

Growing up, my first movie in a theater I can remember was Captain Sindbad.  From 6 years of age, this movie left images in my mind for decades later.  This was a movie of adventure; I found the movie trailer from 1963 at
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=200531&titleId=70251 ; Don't judge it by today's standards, but those of 40 years ago and if you were only 6 years old!


For most people, pirate movies, or those dealing with treasure like National Treasure, are exciting and we love to watch the adventure and often times put ourselves into the scenes.  BUT what does the treasure look like for you; what would it take for you to leave what you are doing, abandoning everything else, to search for it? Don't go on reading until you have a real clear picture of what that treasure is.

Rick Warren has sold over 25 million copies of the Purpose Driven Life!  Is finding that treasure what you are living for; what gives your life purpose for living and breathing?  Check this out...

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  Matt 13:44 a statement of Jesus Christ from the Word of God, the Bible

So think about my earlier posts, could this be that there might be treasure and all my life it is what I have been searching for and my life will not be complete until I find it?  Could it be more than than the treasure in National Treasure: Book of Secrets (or more than its gross revenue of $457 million); more than you could ever dream or imagine?  Is Hollywood making movies that play to the vacuum that is already within us; that adventurous searching for buried treasure?

And Afterward

It is snowing outside; the ground becoming as white as s....., as white as copy paper?  I find snow so beautiful, especially if it doesn't cause people problems with driving or falling.  The trees look like the flocked Christmas trees that I remember as a child; ones with the color wheel changing it from blue to green, to red to orange.  Unless you had one or saw one growing up, you would never believe what we did to color our tree. (found the low tech at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEKh0chg7eU )

The snowflakes drop and swirl around as they come to rest on the ground; each like us that have come to live on the earth, unique.  But I am reminded how quickly they melt away, their presence on earth so brief and but a memory.  Such is our lives, we are born and in the scheme of eternity, a small dot on the time-line.  It happens so quickly; one moment you are that child waiting for Christmas to come; the next you are getting AARP cards and wondering how many Christmas eve services you will be able to attend.


We deceive ourselves to think that the earth is without end.  Though there is many disagreeing ideas of the age of the earth and even the source (a topic for somebody else's blog), the reality is our planet is dying, just like our body.  And yet the question remains; will it die suddenly or of old age?


There is an interesting sign that the prophet Joel was given by God that the Apostle Paul in Acts 2:17 also addresses:

"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions. 

Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 

I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth, ..."  Joel 2:28-30

Paul clarifies the phrase "And afterward" to read "In the last days" because at the time Paul used this passage, it was "afterward"; Jesus Christ had come and the whole earth had changed, and was changing.  I do believe we are in the last days.... I don't have a clue the number of days left, but we are certainly not in the early or first days.

Like the snow, it may be here an hour, a day, a week, but it will not last forever.  The sun will come and the snow will melt and evaporate, somewhat like the earth.  Yet like the snow, I find it peaceful knowing it is here for the moment and rather than worrying about tomorrow, I shall enjoy it today; knowing that ahead lies what Joel and Paul knew, that "I [GOD] will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,...".  What a day that will be.

More than we can imagine or dream of

Before 2011 is out, I will have traveled to more than 40 countries around the world; less than some, yet more than many.  From the garbage dumps and opera houses of Mexico to a chieftain's hut in Cameroon or a salt mine in Poland or the Joint-Chiefs office in the Pentagon; so many different and amazing experiences.  Over the years I have come to appreciate that pictures of these experiences trigger amazing memories.  What is most vivid in those memories are the people; those I have met, talked with, seen, share with, traveled with, and cared for.  Behind every set of eyes is a soul that was created for more than they are experiencing.  The pictures with people in them bring life to the scene; otherwise, it may be just an empty beautiful old building or church, but lacking life. 

There are many wonders of this world that I have not yet seen or been a part of, but what is still mind-blowing to me is this passage of the Bible that Paul uses from the book of Isaiah:
 

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"   1 Cor 2:9

This blog is a journal of sorts; thoughts, experiences, dreams, and a remembrance that I am Of Another Kingdom.