The LORD JESUS has answered this question in the multifaceted description of what The Kingdom of GOD is like. We are going to explore the Bible Passages and learn from what HE said.
In “the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl,” and “the Parable of the Net,” in the book of Matthew Chapter 13 verses 44 to 52, The LORD JESUS said that;
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“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. 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.”
The Parable of the Net
“Once again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” JESUS asked. “Yes,” they replied. HE said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
The LORD JESUS has outlined the picture of how valuable His Kingdom is. We need to treasure it and not take it lightly. The Kingdom of GOD is very precious, we need to treasure it as the most precious thing. But also we learn that it is of great value to take part in the Kingdom of GOD. It is the great value of being a part of GOD'S Kingdom.
In the parable of the hidden treasure in a field, Scriptures say that when the man found the treasure, he hid it again. The word here says he hid it again. And then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Well, we don't buy Salvation of GOD, it's a gift of GOD. But Scriptures say that there is a cost of being a disciple of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. There is a cost of discipleship. In the book of Luke chapter 14 verse 27, it says that "Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple."
There is nothing we can pay GOD to get into the Kingdom of GOD, apart from surrendering our lives to HIM, and to HIS Will for our lives. The LORD JESUS was making an emphasis that after the man realized he had found the field with hidden treasure in it, he was filled with joy, and in his joy went and sold all he had to bought that field.
The Kingdom of GOD is like the field of hidden treasures. There are hidden treasures in the Kingdom of GOD. We have to seek GOD and HIS Kingdom with all our hearts.
As HIS disciples, in the Kingdom of Heaven, we are like the owners of houses who bring out of our storerooms new treasures as well as old.
The same thing with the man in the parable of the pearl, this man in fact, was diligently looking for it. He was a merchant looking for fine pearls. And when he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The first description is of the external expansion part of the Kingdom of GOD, which is like a very tiny seed, a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field and grew into a tree. I read this article online and it related this description as a picture of the Church. Although it has small beginnings, it would grow and expand and even those who naturally are outside or the outsiders would be glad to benefit themselves of its existence and protection.
Many Churches in our regions started small then they grew up into large gathering of GOD'S people where people of all kinds of backgrounds could come and encounter GOD. Some Churches will even grow and extend to other regions in various locations, inside and outside the country they originated or started from.
When we preach the Gospel to others, do evangelism and share CHRIST to them, lead people to pray the Salvation prayer, lead them to repentance, as we bring people to CHRIST, and invite them to come to Church, we are building up the Kingdom of GOD, or the Holy Nation of GOD on this Earth and in Heaven.
The second description is of the internal expansion part of the Kingdom of GOD, which is like leaven, which a woman took and worked into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. We see that GOD works to transform our lives from inside out.
In the book of Luke chapter 17 verses 20 to 21, it records that "Some Pharisees asked JESUS when the Kingdom of GOD would come. HIS answer was, "The Kingdom of GOD does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, 'Look, here it is' or, 'There it is; because the Kingdom of GOD is within you."
We learn through the parable of the leaven, the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD expands through its internal influence to transform our lives. It's inner work of GOD is contagious, and do spread to every area of our lives; spiritually, emotional, relational, marital, healthy and career wise, financial, societal, and so forth.
We need to seek GOD, HIS Kingdom, and HIS righteous ways of doing things. As we seek GOD, and HIS Kingdom, we get to know GOD, and what HIS kingdom is like, and HIS righteousness.
There are some people who have to diligently search for the truth before they find it in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. The are some people who have to go through a lot of challenges and seek for solution from wrong places and people, until one day they encounter GOD in a miraculous way and that encounter changes their lives for the better.
Life in the LORD JESUS CHRIST costs you nothing in the sense of paying for it, but it costs you everything in the sense of surrendering and yielding your will into HIS Will.
Recently I went to this nearby local grocery store and I saw these delicious looking cookies, they were the last five cookies they had, and I wanted to get them. To be honest, I'm not really into eating cookies on regular basis. But that day I wanted them for somehow. So I asked that gentleman at the local grocery store to give them to me, and he said those cookies were reserved for somebody else, who already paid for them. And immediately from nowhere, I said to the grocery store personnel, "I will double whatever this person paid for if you give me those cookies." And there was another gentleman in the store working with him, and they looked to each other, and then looked at me, and one of them said "Are you sure?" And I said, "Why would you think I'm not?" And he said "Okay, you can have them." And I gave them the money, and they gave me the cookies.
I only went there to get a couple of different things. Those cookies were not on the list of things I wanted to get. And because I wanted them so badly, I was willing to get them even if they doubled the price. To make the story short, on my way home, this voice in me, and I believe it is The HOLY SPIRIT, reminded me of the Bible passage of these parables of what the Kingdom Of GOD is like. We have to want it so badly as a great valued field with hidden treasures and as a fine pearl of great value. We have to want it on our own. We have got to be willing to obey GOD when the flesh fights you and me not to do so. We have to give up our lustful and fleshly desires in order to please GOD. We have got to be willing to carry our crosses every day.
We have to endure, and persevere in godliness and live righteously all the way, because the parable of the net says, at the end there is going to be judgment. GOD will send HIS angels to separate the wicked from the righteous.
The Kingdom of GOD is of much greater worth, and it represents GOD and HIS righteousness. When we desire and seek the Kingdom Of GOD, our desires are focused on GOD and HIS righteousness.
What else did The LORD JESUS said about the Kingdom of GOD?
Well, in the same book of Matthew in the same chapter verses 31 to 35, we see the LORD JESUS explaining the Kingdom of GOD in parable again that it starts small but later grows big to meet many needs even of unbelievers, and it always work internally until every area or part is touched and immersed by it.
“In the parable of the Mustard Seed,” and “the Parable of the Leaven,” In the book of Matthew chapter 13 verses 31 to 35, HE said that;
The Mustard Seed
HE gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and of all the seeds [planted in the region] it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air find shelter in its branches.”
The Leaven
HE told them another parable, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and worked into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” All these things JESUS said to the crowds in parables, and HE said nothing to them without [using] a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open My Mouth in parables; I will utter things [unknown and unattainable] that have been hidden [from mankind] since the foundation of the World.”
Many Churches in our regions started small then they grew up into large gathering of GOD'S people where people of all kinds of backgrounds could come and encounter GOD. Some Churches will even grow and extend to other regions in various locations, inside and outside the country they originated or started from.
We know that Church is a healing place where GOD is a healer. Church is a healing institution; spiritual healing, emotional healing, and physical healing. Church is a place designated for people to gather together to worship GOD, it's a house of prayer, filled with GOD'S Presence, HIS guidance and protection. Church is the place to encounter GOD in many ways for various reasons, seasons, needs, and wants.
When we preach the Gospel to others, do evangelism and share CHRIST to them, lead people to pray the Salvation prayer, lead them to repentance, as we bring people to CHRIST, and invite them to come to Church, we are building up the Kingdom of GOD, or the Holy Nation of GOD on this Earth and in Heaven.
In the book of Luke chapter 17 verses 20 to 21, it records that "Some Pharisees asked JESUS when the Kingdom of GOD would come. HIS answer was, "The Kingdom of GOD does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, 'Look, here it is' or, 'There it is; because the Kingdom of GOD is within you."
When GOD comes to live in our hearts and spirits, HE comes with HIS Kingdom. When GOD comes to live with you and me, HE comes with HIS Kingdom.
But also the LORD JESUS said that the Kingdom of GOD is to be sought after, and it has its own ways and protocols of operating and doing things. In the book of Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, HE said “Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of GOD and with what HE requires of you, and HE will provide you with all these other things.”
We need to seek GOD, HIS Kingdom, and HIS righteous ways of doing things. As we seek GOD, and HIS Kingdom, we get to know GOD, and what HIS kingdom is like, and HIS righteousness.
We can seek GOD in various ways. We seek HIM through prayer, as we pray daily and fast also in some days. We seek HIM through praise and worship. We seek HIM as we read the Bible daily. We seek HIM as we listen to Bible teachings. And we seek HIM when we go to Church.
Heavenly FATHER GOD, may ourselves and all our loved ones; all our family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, and all other people and relations YOU have placed in our lives, never miss this Grace, to be part of YOU and YOUR Holy Nation, now and forever more. May we make a priority to seek YOU GOD and YOUR Kingdom, this I pray in JESUS MIGHTY NAME. Amen.
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