The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. MATTHEW iii. 45, 46.
Kingdom of Heaven! Realm of harmony! Who would not wish to realize the possession of so great a treasure? It is within our reach. Jesus hath said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you, or among you." We have not to cry "Lo here, or Lo there!" for Spirit—God—crieth, "Lo, I am everywhere."
The condition of the merchantman was like one who, awakening from his dream of material sense, — catching a glimpse of the light that lighteth every man who cometh into the world, — reaches out, that he may come into possession of the full light and understanding of Truth. The merchantman, in order to come into possession of the Pearl of Great Price, must part with all he had. If we would come into possession of the Truth which makes us free, the Truth that Christ is a complete Saviour, we must part with all we now claim to possess. This, to mortal sense, is a great price; but when viewed in the light of Truth, we understand that we really have nothing to part with, since "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." We have nothing outside our Father's Kingdom.
