Buy The Truth

by Eli Miller

Proverbs 23:23 admonishes us to "buy the truth, and sell it not." The American Heritage Dictionary defines truth as "conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true; fidelity to an original or a standard; sincerity; integrity; reality; actuality." But for all who are spiritually alert, truth is much more than that.

As the end of the age approaches it is of utmost importance that we hold to truth. In too many instances truth is "sold," i.e., surrendered, if circumstances present plausible reason to do so. Subtle error and blatant lies constantly bombard us. We have obviously entered a time when "judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." (Isa.59: 14-15) But in spite of the prevalent conditions of our time, we must keep our priorities and focus fixed on truth.

Jesus said,"ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn.8:32) If truth makes us free, then why is it that we are more apt to believe error than truth, especially when error leaves us in bondage? Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it well when he said: "It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it."

Many people make the same mistake about truth that Pilate did when Jesus was brought before him to be tried. Confused by the conflicting testimony of the Jews who called for Jesus' crucifixion, he asked the Lord, "What is truth?" (Jn.18:38) Pilate thought truth was having correct information. But having truth is more than just having correct information: Truth is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.

Scripture confirms this when it says, "...grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (Jn. 1:17) Jesus, as the oracle of God, once declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (Jn.14:6) He later told His disciples, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me..." (Jn.16:13-14)

Jesus once rebuked some pharisaical Jews, challenging them to "search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me...." (Jn.5:39-40)

This confirms that truth from God's perspective points to and honors Jesus Christ. So when scripture admonishes us to "buy the truth" it calls for more than just having correct information or doctrine. It's a challenge to pay the price to know the Lord intimately enough that we'll not "sell" Him when the pressure is on us to do so. It implies that to know Him in any meaningful way will cost us something of ourselves.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa.55:1)

Naturally speaking, milk and wine aren't the best combination of foods! However, the text is speaking in spiritual language and refers to newborn spiritual babes who "desire the sincere milk of the word," (1 Pet.2:2) as well to those more spiritually mature who are living in the "wine" of life in the Spirit. In every level of experience and relationship with the Lord, the invitation goes out to come to the "water of life proceeding, clear as crystal, out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Rev.22:1) for the desired and needed refreshment.

Two obstacles are presented in the text for the buying process: having no money and buying without price. It's one thing when we desire to purchase something that we don't have the money for, and it's quite another dilemma when we wish to purchase something that doesn't have a price on it, in other words, it's priceless!

In natural things, money is a medium of exchange. We exchange the money we have for the commodities we wish to obtain. When both the purchaser and the seller agree to the amount of money necessary for the transaction, the exchange is made. To understand this principle, we need to analyze how we obtain the necessary money to make such transactions.

Money is a representative of our life. To illustrate the principle, we deny ourselves the luxury of doing nothing and give a certain amount of our time to an employment in exchange for a particular amount of money at the end of the agreed time (hourly, daily, weekly, or whatever). At the end of that period, the payment we receive represents the amount of our life we've given to the employment. We then take that money (part of our life) and purchase the food, clothing, shelter, and et cetera that we need.

When we're first born and in the formation stages of childhood, our parents are responsible to provide for our necessities, and they do so by laying down their lives to obtain them for us. But as we grow up and mature, we become responsible for the things we have need of, and based on the examples we learned from our parents, we purchase those things for ourselves. To expect someone else to provide for us as adults is to live in a "welfare mentality."

The same principle applies in the spirit. When we're first born again, our Heavenly Father makes every provision we need for our spiritual well-being. Then as we grow up and mature spiritually, we become responsible to "occupy till He comes" (Lu.19:13) and "purchase" from Him the "commodities" He made available to us. Though we can't add anything to the complete provision He made for us in Christ, we're responsible to secure the full benefits of that provision for ourselves. (see 2 Pet.1:10)

The anointing is the means of "purchasing" in the spirit. As in the natural, the more we separate ourselves from earthly things and consecrate ourselves to our Heavenly Father, the more anointing we have at our disposal. It's the "unction" from on high that breaks the limits of our natural abilities and reaches into the spiritual storehouse of our Father to obtain the spiritual "goods" we have need of. (1 Jn.2:20; Isa.10:27)

As mentioned above, the text of Isaiah 55:1 presents two obstacles for the buying process. The first is that we've invited to buy without money and the second is that we're to buy without a price.

I'm sure that at one time or other all of us have desired to purchase something, but didn't want to pay the price being asked for the item. It could have been that we either didn't have the necessary money, or that we didn't think the price represented good value. Either way, we decided to wait until the article went on sale and the price was in the range where we felt we could justify the money spent for it.

However, how would we buy something if it didn't have a price on it?

The only way we can purchase something that doesn't have a price attached to it is for us to determine what it's worth to us. When one thinks about it, the consumer is always the one who determines the value of a commodity.

As long as the consumer is willing to pay the asking price of anything, the supply and demand factor causes the price to stay the same or perhaps even increase through "inflation" until the demand for it is met. It's not that the value of the item has increased, but the amount of people willing to pay the asking price for the item has increased. If enough people would boycott an item that was overpriced, we can be sure that the price for it would come down until the consumers felt the asking price was equal to its value and were again willing to pay it.

Though this article is not intended to be a lesson in economics, I want to bring a principle into focus that we can relate to as we go along. It's an important principle to understand, especially as it's related to buying the truth, that is, paying the price for a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ Who is the truth.

First of all, such a relationship can't be purchased with money, or anything else we could come up with naturally. Secondly, there is no fixed price, or formula, for an intimate relationship with the Lord -- it's up to each of us to determine what it's worth to know Him.

In other words, reading a proportioned amount of scripture each day, praying for a certain amount of time each day, or listening to tapes of inspirational messages every day won't guarantee that we've paid the price to have a meaningful relationship with the Lord. But as the Lord leads us along the pathway of life and we encounter the temptations, trials, victories, heartaches, discouragements, joys, and the full collage of life's experiences, we must determine what it's worth to us to remain faithful to Him and enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him.

There is no fixed price to knowing the Lord (other than costing our life) and no one can decide for us what is the correct amount for us to pay: we must make that decision for ourselves.

If we allow life's experiences to shift our focus from our passion to be intimate with Him, we've just "sold," that is, surrendered the truth. In doing so, we've determined the limits of the price we're willing to pay to know Him who is truth. However, as long as God has a people who value knowing Him enough that they are willing to pay any price for the relationship, the cost will remain the same.

"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isa.55:2)

When an all-knowing, infinite God asks finite man a question, it's not because He is seeking information! He asks questions because He wants to get our focus into alignment with His perspective in a given area. The questions God asked in this second verse are designed to challenge us to consider our priorities and how we're spending our time and energy. Why is it, He asks, that we spend so much time on things that don't satisfy the inner longings of our heart?

The Lord then admonishes us to "hearken diligently to Me" so that we can delight ourselves in His abundance. To hearken is to hear something with the intent to respond. Though there are many voices clamoring for our attention, our spiritual ear needs to be intently tuned to His voice if we're to hear His word. (Jn.10:4)

The longer we walk with the Lord, the quieter He speaks to us. The reason He does this is because He wants to draw us closer to Himself. He knows that if He continued speaking to us as loudly as He did when we were first converted, we'd tend to stay on the perimeter of our hearing range. However, if we really want to hear Him as He speaks in a quieter manner, we'll draw closer to Him so as not to a word He wants to tell us. His purpose is to draw us so close to Him that we live in His bosom as Jesus did. (see Jn.1:18)

Every word the Lord speaks is given to us to reveal His will. Once we know His will in a given area, He shouldn't have to speak to us about it again. As we learn what His will is in every area of our life, and we allow Him to conform us to it, the time will come when we're in such harmony with Him that He doesn't need to speak to us at all -- we'll be the expression of His will in the earth.

This was typified in scripture by the manna ceasing when Israel entered their promised land. As long as they were wandering in the wilderness, the manna was there for them six days a week. But as soon as they crossed the Jordan and could partake of the fruit in the land, it ceased.

It could also be likened to a couple getting married and the husband telling his new wife how he liked his breakfast prepared. It might be expected that he tell her once or twice, but if after many years of marriage he still needed to tell her every morning how to prepare it, something would be very amiss with their communication skills!

"Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isa.55:3)

If we're to hear every word that proceeds from the Lord, we need to incline our ear toward Him. That means we "lean toward" Him in anticipation of hearing His next instructions. It implies that we've laid aside every distraction and that He has our undivided attention.

This principle can be illustrated with an experience I had some years ago on an occasion when I went moose hunting. A couple inches of snow had fallen so the conditions were perfect for tracking, and it wasn't long till I came across what I knew were fresh moose tracks.

Being familiar with the area I was hunting in, I determined where the moose was going and took a circular route that would bring me downwind from where I expected to find it. Sure enough, as I carefully made my way through a sparse stand of trees, I saw the moose just a short distance ahead of me! Wanting to get a little closer before I attempted to shoot, I very carefully inched my way ahead. However, as I moved forward, I stepped on a small twig that was covered with snow, and when I did, it snapped! As you can guess, the moose immediately inclined his ear! Although he did not see me, he was intensely interested in any other sound that might come from my direction!

We need to be as intensely interested in hearing what the Lord wants to tell us as that moose was in finding out what had caused the unexpected snap of a twig. We'll never know how much of the Lord's essential instructions we miss if we're preoccupied with a lot of non-essentials. We need to make sure that our ear is trained and open to hear His slightest whisper.

Notice the Lord didn't say, "Come to a certain doctrine," or, "Come to a particular church or group of people," or, "Embrace a specific program or lifestyle:" He said, "Come to Me."

It seems like the Lord constantly needs to remind us to come to Him. We're prone to go to any program or phenomenon that we think looks like Him, but we're often hesitant to come directly to Him. We'll go to a friend, to some ministry, to a professional "fixer upper" for advise and comfort. Yet He is the only One Who can accurately chart our course through the pitfalls of life and bring us safely to our desired destination.

To consistently hear the voice of the Lord and come to Him requires that we have right priorities. And right priorities can be ours only as we maintain a right vision and sense of direction that is the result of our passion to know Him intimately.

Revelation 2:1-7 is an admonition to the Ephesian church some 40 years after the church had been birthed in Acts 19. The Spirit of the Lord had moved so mightily in the city, and the Ephesians had such a zeal for the Lord, that the craftsmen making idols to the goddess Diana were practically put out of business. In fact, the entire city rioted because of it!

The Apostle Paul had spent several years in Ephesus teaching the believers "all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) His word was so well received and the new believers were so zealous "that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 19:10)

A few years later he wrote the Ephesians letter in which he expounded on some of the most profound truth given anywhere in scripture. In the letter he spoke of the mystery that had been hidden in past ages "that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." (Eph.3:6)

He told them they were being "builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" and of the perfecting of the saints. He spoke of coming to "the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph.2:22; 4:13) among other great truths.

Now approximately 30 years later, John the Revelator is given another word for the Ephesians church. The Lord first commended them for their works, labor, and patience. He praised them for their ability to "see through" and discern certain ministry claiming to be apostles, but who weren't. He acknowledged their endurance for His name's sake and appreciated that they had not become weary in well doing. He even applauded them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitanes who mingled immoral heathen practices with their "liberated christianity" while enslaving the common people in hierarchical bondage.

But then He brought an allegation against them: "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." (ver.4)

Notice that the Lord didn't tell the Ephesians they had lost their first love, but rather that they had left it. This implies that over time other priorities had crowded out the passion they once had for Him. Though their faith might have matured over the years, the zealous fire in them that had incited a riot several decades earlier had grown cold. Familiarity with the gospel had overshadowed the intensity they'd once known, and consequently, they were no longer paying the price to maintain the same level of fellowship with Him they had first enjoyed.

The Lord then admonished them to "remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (verse 5)

Quite a solemn warning for a church who had once known the fire of God in their midst. The Lord challenged them to remember the fervent zeal they once had when they first responded to the gospel. It had been a zeal that caused them to idols and dead form, and abide in Christ with a conscious awareness of His presence. He then tried to provoke them to repentance and to get back into such an abiding relationship, lest He removed the candlestick of light and truth from their midst.

Many people and churches who call themselves by the name of Christ are in the same precarious situation today the Ephesians church was in. Where there was once a blazing passionate fire to know Him, there are now only a few smoldering embers left -- and those are dangerously close to going out. Over time a shallow easy-believism gospel has pacified their fervent quest to know Him. Lesser priorities have taken precedence and gradually clouded a vision that was once crystal clear. Consequently, personal devotion has given place to preoccupied busyness and social acceptance.

For many church groups the candlestick the Lord once lit in their midst could go out without them realizing it. Their programs could go on quite nicely without the presence of the Lord among them. Everything is done by professional rote and "by the book" with complete disregard to any personal leading of the Spirit.

Individuals who were once vibrant and alive with a contagious faith have become too "mature" for any passionate display of their love for the Lord. They coast on past experiences and reminiscent nostalgia. The sharp vision they once had has become a dream of what could have been, and having been lulled to sleep by a debilitating social gospel, they live in the stupor of their own lethargic indifference.

If this is your condition,"lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset" you, (Heb.12:1) and run -- don't walk -- to the throne of grace for cleansing. Plead with the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation and to rekindle the fire in your bosom. Be willing to rearrange your priorities and pay the price to know Him in all His fulness.

Isaiah's admonition to Israel is still apropos: "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (.55:6-7)

Revelation 2:7 concludes the Lord's word to the backslidden Ephesians: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; `To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.'"

What were they to overcome? They were to overcome the tendency we all have to leave our first love for the Lord. The one who does that is promised to get his provision from the very tree of life -- the Lord Himself.

What is the truth worth to you? Have you established a "ceiling" price for what you are willing to pay to know Him? Are you allowing other priorities to crowd out your passion and quest to be made one with Him? Have you tired of waiting for Him Who once called to you: "Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away"? (Song 2:10)

There are many examples in scripture of people who were quite willing to pay whatever price was necessary to come into perfect harmony with the Lord's will for them. One such example is King David as is recorded in 1 Chronicles 21:1-30.

Satan had been successful in getting David to number Israel, but the action was displeasing to the Lord. To give David the opportunity to choose how He would judge his prideful action, the Lord sent Gad the prophet to him.

The king chose to have three days of pestilence from the Lord over his other options. As a result, 70,000 men of Israel died in those three days. In a spirit of deep remorse and broken repentance, David received further instructions from the Lord that he "should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite." (ver.18) He immediately responded.

When Ornan saw the king approaching his threshing floor, he bowed before him with his face to the ground. He had no way of knowing whether the king came peaceably or with some demanding request.

"Then David said to Ornan, `Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.'" (ver.22)

Relieved that the king had only requested his threshing floor, "Ornan said unto David, `Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.'" (ver.23)

Not only could David have accepted Ornan's generous offer, he could have demanded the threshing floor because he was the king. But instead he said to Ornan, "Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost." (ver.24)

David was prepared to pay the full price because he didn't want to offer anything to the Lord that hadn't cost him what it was worth. He was painfully aware of the anguish his presumptuous numbering of Israel had caused so many of his countrymen and he wanted to get absolutely right with the Lord without any further cost to them. He also knew that anything received without personal cost very quickly loses its value.

When the buying transaction was completed, "David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering." (ver.26)

The Lord was so pleased with David's response that He gave him immediate confirmation by sending fire from heaven to consume the offerings. The king's obedience and repentant offering had made an atonement for his sin, and the pestilence of death ceased in the land.

Are you, like David, quick to assume responsibility for your impetuous actions, or do you still expect others to pay the price for you?

When you realize that something is amiss between you and the Lord, are you ready to do what it takes to get back into a right relationship with Him, regardless of what other people might think or say? Do you blame your "environment" and the people closest to you for your lack spiritual life?

The account of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 provides a perfect example of those who pay the price to be ready for the Lord's soon appearing, and those who want a "free ride."

We need to note that all ten were virgins, therefore they had all been "redeemed from among men" (Rev.14:4) i.e., they were all Christians. The difference between them was that five were wise, (disciplined, prudent and focused) while five were foolish (dull, heedless and silly).

While the virgins were waiting for the bridegroom's appearing, they all became drowsy and slept. When the announcement was made that the bridegroom was at hand, they all arose and trimmed their lamps. Unfortunately, the lamps of the foolish had run out of oil and were going out.

The foolish immediately said to the wise, "Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."

"But the wise answered, saying, `Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Mt.25:8-10)

At first we might be critical of the wise virgins for not giving any of their oil to the foolish, thinking that they had responded in an "unchristian" manner. But what the Lord wants us to see in this account is that no one can pay the price for us for a meaningful relationship with Him.

Wives can't pay the price for their husbands; husbands can't pay the price for their wives; parents can't pay the price for their children: Each of us must pay the price to purchase enough "oil" to sustain us through the night and prepare us for the Bridegroom.

We also need to understand that this account is not talking about initial salvation. This illustration is about being ready to meet the Lord as a firstfruits company, and going into the "marriage chamber" to come into full union with Him at the end of this age.

The foolish virgins didn't lose their "virginity" because of not having enough oil -- they lost their opportunity to go into the marriage. It should also be noted that the foolish apparently found the oil they were looking for, or else they would have really been foolish to come to the door again without it! Note also that though the foolish virgins pleaded with the Lord to open to them, they were denied.

I don't believe the door of opportunity to be part of those wise virgins will close with a loud bang. Neither do I think it will make the headlines of the morning paper: I believe it will close so quietly that it won't be known it has closed until one tries to go through it and finds it shut.

Entering the marriage union and coming forth in the first resurrection isn't something that we are going to be drug into. Neither will we be coaxed into it, or persuaded in some way: Sonship and firstfruits must be pressed into by paying the price to keep our priorities right and staying focused on our calling. It's a calling that we must give diligence to make sure for ourselves. (2 Pet.1:10)

What's it worth to you to make your calling and election sure? Are you yielding yourself to the discipline of the Lord so you'll have the oil you need to go into the marriage, or are you still expecting to slip in by osmosis? Are you buying the truth so that you never again need to be separated from it, or are you quick to "sell" it when the pressure is on? Or are you counting on a loved one to give you of their oil?

Hopefully you aren't still expecting to be "whisked away" -- whether prepared or not -- to take part in the marriage just because you're a "virgin." Remember, there are many concubines and queens, as well as virgins without number," but the Lord said, "My dove, My undefiled is but one." (Song 6:8-9)

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." (Mt.13:44)

This parable doesn't tell us what the treasure was or how large the field in which it was hidden. But whatever it was, the man wanted it! Notice that the man didn't go to the owner and request to buy just the treasure. But to make sure that he would get the treasure he'd found, he was willing to buy the entire field.

Because we're not told that this was a well cultivated and beautifully manicured field, we must assume that it was just an ordinary uncultivated field like others in the area! The only difference was that this particular one had a treasure hidden in it.

We're not told what the man paid for the field, only that he was willing to sell everything he had just to make the transaction. Neither are we told what all he needed to sell to get the necessary money to buy it, but we can safely assume that he had all the amenities of his day.

That means he sold his home, furnishings, clothing, mode of transportation -- everything. He then bought the field with all the sticks, stones, stumps, thorns and thistles, and whatever discarded junk that might been strewn around in it, just to get the treasure he'd found!

Talk about focus and priority! He so wanted that hidden treasure that everything he had already accumulated lost its value and attraction in the light of it. His passion to secure the treasure knew no limits, neither would it entertain any "logical" distractions.

The Lord has revealed a precious treasure to every seeking heart that comes to Him. Not only is it the treasure of knowing Him, but also the truth of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col.1:27) It's a treasure "in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Cor.4:7)

All too often we want the treasure in the field without having to buy the "whole field." In other words, we want a "just me and Jesus" relationship with the Lord without having any affiliation with the members that make up His body. We don't want to buy the "sticks, stones, warts and wrinkles" of the quirks and idiosyncrasies the "field" is made up of! However, if we seriously desire to have the treasure, we must buy the whole field!

Are you ready to "sell" what you have and "buy the field" for the sake of getting the treasure hidden in it? (Remember that treasure is seldom found lying in the open -- you have to look for it!) Or will you allow the faults and short-comings of others to excuse you from pursuing the Lord as you know you need to?

Have you looked beyond the obvious debris of the field and seen the glory of God in your brethren? Or are you still waiting till the field gets cleaned up before buying it? If you are, you'll likely miss your opportunity to secure the treasure.

"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." (Mt.13:45-46)

This parable illustrates the same principle as the previous one, but with a slight difference. Here we're told exactly what the man was seeking and buying -- one pearl.

Think of it: a pearl can't keep you warm; it can't provide shelter in a time of storm; neither can you eat or wear it, except around your neck! Yet this man determined that one pearl was worth enough to him that he sold everything he had just so he would never have to part with it again!

I'm reminded of my first trip to London when I went to see the crown jewels of England. Those lovely jewels were magnificent diamonds and precious stones, the size of which I'd never seen! I'm sure that some people would gladly plot elaborate schemes and even kill to get their hands on jewels like that.

But again, all they are actually good for is to look at and impress people with! You would not dare take them out into public because somebody would probably take as much of a liking to them as you did and steal them from you!

The spiritual treasure set before us is worth much more that any natural treasure, pearl, or piece of jewelry we could possibly imagine. The Lord Himself is the only true treasure, and in Him there is an abundance of all that which is rich and meaningful for us. The fulness of wisdom, knowledge, righteousness, grace, and peace are all available to us in Christ. And, if we'll prepare ourselves to seek Him, all that He is can become our own.

It is interesting to note that the treasure in the above parable was hidden in an open field, rather than in some enclosed place, and the language used regarding the pearl implies that it was found and purchased in the marketplace. The significance of this is that both treasures were available to anyone who sought them and was willing to come to terms with the purchase price.

Note also the value of each find was determined by the one who sought to buy it, otherwise they would not have sold all they had in order to ensure they could meet the terms of the transaction.

We're not told that it took all the money they generated from selling everything to buy their treasures, just that they sold everything so they'd be prepared to buy them!

What is the truth and reality of an intimate relationship with the Lord worth to you? Is it your top priority or do you just have it as an "also buy"?

The Apostle Paul made similar choices about the value of knowing the Lord. Though he had one of the finest pedigrees any man of his day could have, he counted it all loss for the privilege of knowing Christ.

He said that he counted "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Phil.3:8-9)

A few verses later he said: "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul wrote those words some 25 years after his conversion experience and after many years in the ministry. In counting everything of his past -- whether it had been good, bad, or indifferent -- as dung rather than something to be held on to, he "sold" all that he had to lay hold of Christ.

No one told him he had to do that, but when he saw the glory of the Lord on the Damascus road, everything he had counted as precious up to that time became dim in the light of the treasure he'd just found. Now after years of trials, hardships, betrayals, and other untold disappointments, he was still pressing forward for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, Paul said the passion that motivated him was, "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (ver.10-12)

We might say, "Wait a minute, Paul. You mean you've been a Christian and in the ministry for so long and you're still unsure of attaining to the resurrection?" Or, "You're an apostlic ministry and you're not confident that you've fulfilled your calling?"

Was Paul really that insecure, or did he have such a vision of God's purpose and a comprehension of the gospel that it continued to motivate him? Did he understand something about qualifying for a particular resurrection that many people don't understand today?

Just what was the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" that he spoke of?

Could he have meant that it was the opportunity to come to "the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph.4:13) and "be conformed to the image of His Son"? (Rom.8:29) Could he have meant that his passionate motivation was to be part of a firstfruits company of sons that so pleased the Lord that He was "not ashamed to call them brethren"? (Heb.2:10-11)

Is your vision and sense of calling precious enough to keep the passion of coming into union with the Lord focused in your spirit? Or have you allowed the mundane things of life to snuff out the flames of desire?

Have you set a limit to what you are willing to "pay" for the truth, or is it settled in your heart that regardless of the personal cost, you'll continue to respond to His invitation to join Him in the marriage chamber?

Even now He is at the door.

Hebrews 11 provides various snapshots of people in the Old Testament who had a sense of destiny in their bosom. We read the accounts in awe of the situations they stood firm in, and perhaps wonder if we would have done the same in similar circumstances. A common principle is seen in all the accounts recorded. It is that they would not accept deliverance from their temporary situations so "that they might obtain a better resurrection." (ver.35)

The circumstances we encounter every day provoke certain responses in us: We'll either embrace them as the implements of our perfection, or we'll seek to be delivered from them in an attempt to save our own life.

The saints listed in the above "roll call of faith" were "subject to like passions as we are," (Jam.5:17) but with one distinct characteristic that is often lacking in us: They would not jeopardize their long-term vision for the sake of an immediate deliverance from their adverse circumstances.

The popular gospel of today offers a "quick fix" for any malady that we might have. If it can't fix our problem, it will at least offer a "band-aid solution" that will soothe our conscience and take our mind off of our real spiritual need. Its appeasing message subtly shifts our focus from a long-term inheritance and fixes it on some short-term deliverance. It often substitutes questionable experiences for lasting change -- change that only comes from knowing the Lord.

I join the saints of Hebrews 11 to say that if some temporary relief of the immediate jeopardizes our eternal prize, let's refuse the deliverance of the moment that we might obtain the timeless treasure. If we make that choice, we'll forever look upon our decision as the greatest bargain we ever purchased. On the other hand, if we settle for a cheap and temporary substitute, the pain of missing what could have been will be beyond compare.

If Jesus was so committed to paying the full price of maintaining His obedience to His Father that He wouldn't draw back from embracing the cross "because of the joy He knew would be His afterwards," (Heb.12:2 TLB) we need to "arm [y]ourselves likewise with the same mind." (1 Pet.4:1) He didn't lay down His life for us so that we wouldn't have to pay a price: He paid the full price so we too can take up our cross, "lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us," and follow His example. (Heb.12:1)

Let's not draw back from embracing every life experience that God puts before us because they provide the "marketplace" where we choose to "buy" the truth or let it go. Every test and trial that comes our way is to let us see if maintaining fellowship with the Lord is more important than momentary relief. If we're quick to take the "path of least resistance" it is because we really haven't learned the joy of knowing Him.

When the Apostle Paul said that he counted every natural advantage as dung that he might "know Him and the power of His resurrection," it was because he wanted intimacy with the Lord in every life experience. He wanted to maintain conscious fellowship with Him regardless of what personal cost might be involved to do that.

Likewise, we can't say that we know the Lord unless we're learning to know Him in every experience of life. If we only know Him "on the mountain top" when things are going well and then lose Him "in the valley" when they aren't, we're not buying the truth, neither do we know Him.

To know Him means that our fellowship with Him remains intact regardless of what circumstances try to separate us. It means that we press through the veil of our own comforts until we break through into a dimension of life where we maintain a conscious awareness of His abiding presence. As the sense of His presence dawns and envelopes us, the things of earth grow strangely dim in contrast to the glory and joy of His fragrance -- a foretaste of even greater things to come.

What is the truth worth to you? What price will you pay in exchange of knowing the Lord in unbroken fellowship? Are you willing to "sell all that you have" to ensure that you'll never again need to part with the treasure you've found? Or are you waiting for a "fire sale" or some "midnight madness bonanza" before you'll pay the asking price?

I hear the Lord plaeding with His people: "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Rev.3:18-20)

Even now I hear a knock at the door. Won't you open it and invite Him in?

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev.3:22)