Priceless

Matthew 13:44-46, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

In all of the various forms of Christianity it is pretty common to have an understanding of the person of Jesus Christ. Universally it is really understood that God sent His Son for the redemption of mankind.

Less familiar is the Holy Spirit Who is sent by Christ to be our Helper. In fact, the Holy Spirit comes with a bit of controversy depending on denomination and upbringing.

Even less known, or talked about is the Father.

Least of all seems to be this idea of the kingdom of heaven.

Here Jesus comes to earth with a message. That message was the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. It was not the gospel of salvation. It was not the gospel of Christ. It was the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. But what is it?

Simply put, and without theological explanation, the kingdom of heaven is God’s domain. It is the area, the spiritual space that God occupies. Jesus says that it is inside us. (Luke 17:21) Jesus also said that the kingdom of heaven grows. (Matthew 13:33)

So there is this space that is inside of us, containing the Trinity, that is growing and competing for more room. But why do so few connect to it? Why do we hear little to nothing from pulpits regarding the kingdom of heaven? What was Christ first request in Him teaching us to pray? “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

This kingdom is not something reserved for Christ return. It is here now. It is like a treasure that some stumble upon, and it is like a merchant that seeks some out. But it is real, it is tangible, and it is growing inside you. It is accompanied by a growing awareness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of heaven is expanding inside of us, and as it expands it is felt as conflict, ego must move aside and die as the kingdom inside of us grows.

But once the awareness happens, once the scales come off the spiritual eyes and the treasure that the kingdom of God inside us is made real; then we see how priceless it is. It is this kingdom of God awareness that inspires people to lay down their life, to take up their cross, and to do it at any cost.

May God allow you to discover the treasure that the kingdom of God is, and may He do it today.