“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.”                 Matthew 13:45,46

Early one morning walking along the beach I saw what looked like tiny strings of iridescent pearls stretched out in swirls for miles along the sand at the water’s edge.  Even though they were only seed pearls off some kind of seaweed, I imagined these pearls to be much like the wisdom of God which is limitless.  When we ask and seek his wisdom, he gives us a precious pearl or two to tuck in our mind and heart.  As we begin to understand the value of these precious pearls of wisdom we desire more and more.   I don’t believe that many of the beach walkers this morning even noticed these pearls as they walked or jogged crushing them as they went.  Most of the walkers are far too busy listening to their headset radios to hear the voice of God.  While others walk along discussing self-seeking plans and complaints to each other never taking time to appreciate the wondrous beauty and gifts of God along the way.

Seaweed in the water and along the beach has a way of clinging to your legs and feet.  The thicker the seaweed becomes the more dark and dirty the water appears.  It also emits a foul odor that burns your nose and throat when it collects along the beach filled with dead fish. It reminds me of Satan’s lies which can entangle our good intentions and actions when we allow them to take root in our mind and memory.   So often we walk along consumed by the fog of our daily problems and miss out on so much beauty.  When we observe and appreciate God’s wonderful creation, we gain wisdom and understanding about this awesome God who loves and blesses us in ways beyond what we could imagine.  Only His wisdom could create the infinite quantity and variety of tiny, exquisite shells along the beach, multitudes of beautiful flowers, the ever changing woods in summer, fall, springtime and winter, green meadows and snow capped mountains, blue skies and clouds, sunsets and sunrises.  And these are just a few of the ways that God delights in providing glorious beauty for our enjoyment.

“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.  Look to the LORD and His strength; seek his face always.”    Psalm 105:3,4   Butterflies are pretty, but they also enlighten us about death and provide hope that one day like the ugly caterpillar, we will exchange these earthly bodies for a new eternal body and live forever with the God who created us.   Trees lose their beautiful foliage in fall and look dead and lifeless all winter long as cold winds blow and snow falls.  But when spring comes they bud with new leaves and blossom with flowers because God has the power to give new life to us and His creation.   It amazes me that this mighty God of ours who stretched out the heavens and created the earth still has time and wants a relationship with me.  It doesn’t matter what a mess my life is or what I have done in the past.  His grace covers all my sin and His love and concern for my life overwhelms me with joy.

“This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it – the LORD is His name.  ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”            Jeremiah 33:2,3    So as I walk the beach listening to the gentle rhythm of the waves and gathering precious pearls in my mind, I know that He walks beside me. Having trusted Jesus to be my Savior, and believing that He paid the debt in full for my sin when he died on the cross, I have given my heart to Him.  Because I know that He is in control, I don’t need to worry about what happens in my life and I am filled with a feeling of great peace in the ever Presence of His love.

“For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”            II Corinthians 4:6