Hidden Irritants Revealed
“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 13:45-46 NKJV
Pearls are beautiful gems and admired. Because of this, the pearl is a metaphor for something rare, fine, and of value.
But when you study how a pearl is made, it is much like life with all the irritants that cause us to be sad or the trials we cannot make sense of, yet there is something not seen that we fail to realize that there is an object of beauty to come forth.
It is through the confines and limitations of our existence that we learn to discern to see and hear properly the wisdom of God.
All life begins with a struggle. When life began there was a struggle. Everything struggles. Even when we stand still, there are forces at work that we cannot see that are still in a struggle in some facet of our lives.
Nothing in life stands still. Even if we decide to sit and quit, there is still movement because we are still in a struggle because time marches on. We must choose each day who we serve.
For instance, do we choose if we die daily to our flesh. (1 Corinthians 15:21)
We can either advance the cause of Christ by living life forward, or we can stand still, regress backward and turn inwardly to self.
Free will and free choice is not something you do once in your spiritual life. It is an ongoing everyday decision. Every day our actions and attitudes reveal if we have picked up our cross daily to follow Him.
Life is a mystery in many ways because we see through a glass darkly. (1 Corinthians 13:12) Having Faith in God gives us substance in which we can weave what is the spiritual into what is the natural realm.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV
God spoke a word and it was! God said let there be light, and it happened. We tend to forget so easily that the reality of our natural life had a beginning in what was not seen.
Everything of eternal weight and value had a beginning. But it is true of the negative aspects of life as well. We have the ability to decree a thing and we have the power to choose life and death, blessing and cursing. (Job 22:28)
Regardless of the outcome it doesn’t have to remain that way. As long as we have breath in us, we can still cry out to God for help, we have hope!
Every day we can begin again in Jesus, and if necessary, we can choose to start again moment by moment. If you take one step towards him, he will run to you! Beloved, you can begin again in Jesus it is never too late!
This world has so many twists and turns and is getting worse day by day, but for the believer and follower of Jesus Christ we have the power working in us to will and do His good pleasure. If I had to place my hope in this world, I would be miserable! (1 Corinthians 15:19)
The believer and follower of Jesus Christ is not promised a life of ease and perfection in this life. No way!
We face problems, we hurt and suffer horrible pain and loss. We are on a journey with Christ in us in this world onward and upward! For it is Christ in us ,The Hope of Glory!
We must base our lives on God’s Word alone and place our trust. Heaven and earth will pass away but HIS WORD will never pass away!
We are Pilgrims simply passing through this life for a higher purpose for we have an eternal address. This life is not our own, we were bought and paid for with the precious blood of Christ.
We followers of Christ are also ambassadors of an eternal and heavenly country. We represent our King to this world!
Regardless of things known or unknown we all have a new day in the morning. But regardless of how hard we try, there are times that cannot be explained or understood until we get to heaven. That is where our trust and faith brings us through.
We choose life in Christ and that means it is a life of service, and a time to count the cost because we learn that the trials and irritants of life, create within us the pearl of great price.
There are many you pass each day, but there are some seekers that will see what you carry within as precious, as a pearl of great price.
Accepting Jesus Christ as Savior is free, but it will cost you everything. Hold Jesus tight but hold this life loose because life comes to all of us.
In various times and seasons we have pain, trial, misunderstanding, and confusion, but it is in these times we must remember this life is temporary and passing away day by day.
We must learn to recognize these times in others to encourage, for those who sow in tears will reap great joy! Remember, one day you will need encouragement in your time of trial.
Hold onto His unchanging hand, The LORD is the only one trustworthy.
Men will fail, fall, and hurt you, but everything we go through has eternal weight and it is in the process of irritants that is creating Christ in us, The Hope of Glory — because we are becoming more like Him day by day.
In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey
Sherry Edwards Mackey
Please Note: Publications and or prophecy taken from this may be used to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. The articles taken must be used according to it’s entirety with credits. Thank you kindly!