Exquisite Jewellery
by Jerry Vander Veen
In some societies both men and women have the custom of wearing jewellery. You may be assured that Scripture has something to say about this. Both men and women, who are born again believers, for instance, are called upon to "Take up thy cross and follow me." We realize from this that we are not talking about the cross, made of precious metal, but of the odious cross that is blood stained, and is the place where I identify with the death of Christ. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed" I Peter 2:24. This is not to be purchased in the refined jewellery shops but is already purchased on a hill called Golgotha.
This peace of jewellery has to be attained personally and no one can go to Golgotha for you to bring it to you. You must personally go to this blood stained place, which will be the death of ;you. It has already been purchased for you and is of such value that, when its value is realized a man will leave all to attain to it. Matthew 13:45, 46 relates that a man would sell all in order to attain to the "the pearl of great price "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."
This may also point to Jesus, who found you and me and was willing to pay with all He had to purchase us. A pearl is born out of great suffering; it's a speck of sand or a parasite, which makes its way into an oyster and irritates and hurts. Around this the oyster builds a defense out of which is born the "pearl of great price." God is in the business of making His own as jewels for his crown. Both the believer and the pearl are born through much suffering.
Now this cross is not forced upon you as we have sometimes uttered in the words, "this is the cross that I HAVE to bear." Please note that God says, TAKE up (voluntary exercise) thy cross and follow me." You don't have to pay the price of carrying the cross: but nor will you ever posses the pearl of "great price" if you don't . There will never be a crown if there is not a cross. If you will not carry the cross, you will not have it to exchange for the crown, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you in prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" Revelation 2:10. "And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" I Peter 5:4.
The day will come when we will see what we deserved and what we are given, which will move us to lay this precious peace of jewellery at the feet of Jesus Christ, who is the very reason for me not to burn in hell but have His presence for ever more. The above demands our verdict!
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