We know that salvation is a gift from God that we do not earn. But it is a gift that must be received. And it can only be received with empty hands, but there is a transaction by which what he gives actually becomes yours.
And that’s the point. A Christian can say, “Jesus and all that is in Him actually is mine.” There is a transaction that has taken place. You might ask: How do I know if that has taken place?
Here are two ways:
1. When you have Christ, you know you are rich.
When Christ is yours, you are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Him.
“For all things are yours… life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).
2. You know in your heart that you are no longer searching.
When the trader buys this pearl, he is done trading. He has sold his collection, and so the only way he could do any more trading would be to give up the pearl of great value.
So when the pearl merchant has made his purchase, he says, “I am done with that market! I am no longer in that business. I have found what I was looking for.”
Jesus Christ is the pearl of great price.
When you have him your search will be over. When Christ is yours you will no longer be on a long search. You will find yourself saying with Paul that you want to know more of him and of the power of his resurrection, even if that means sharing in the fellowship of his sufferings. That’s how a Christian speaks.
The good news is that the owner of the pearl is ready to sell. If you will have Christ, Christ will be yours. You must go to God to seal the deal. The treasure is His. Christ is His Son.
Go to the Father and tell Him that you see supreme value in His Son. Tell Him you have been living for the wrong things and that nothing in your life can compare in value with who Christ is, and what He has done, and what He offers to you.
Tell him that you are ready to give up, “I have been pursuing my own way. I have been defining my own truth. And I have been ruling my own life. From this day forward Jesus Christ will be my way. Jesus Christ will be my truth. Jesus Christ will be my life.”
