How to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” Mathew 13: 44-46.
The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like Treasure
This passage tells us the Kingdom of Heaven is “like treasure”, more valuable than anything else the man in the story owned. It’s compared to a “pearl of great value”, again more valuable than all else the man owed.
In Mathew 5, we’re told the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit (Mathew 5: 3). And to those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (Mathew 5: 10).
We often hear that to be poor in spirit means to be humble and mindful of our sinfulness. And I do believe it can have that connotation.
The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to the Poor in Spirit
But according to Strong’s Exhaustive Dictionary of the Bible, it simply means to be poor or “to rove about in wretchedness”, without reference to the spiritual state.
So, I think the phrase could be applied to any affliction, whether spiritual in nature or not.
So by implication, this great treasure and priceless pearl is given to the afflicted and the persecuted.
No Absolute Loss for the Believer
This is a perfect example of how we gain in one realm when we lose in the other. And as long as we continue to walk in faith and love, there is never any absolute loss for the believer.
The loss of something precious in the natural realm, for example, makes us poor in spirit. This ushers us into the Kingdom of God, which is the great treasure/priceless pearl.
Now, of course, it’s not automatic. Our natural losses won’t usher us into anything but anger and bitterness if we don’t continue in our faith in the midst of them.
But, if we choose to “give thanks in all circumstances“, 1 Thessalonians 5: 18, and believe that “for those who love God all things work together for good”, Romans 8: 28, we will experience the presence of God like never before.
The Lord is Near to the Broken -Hearted
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” Psalm 34: 18.
Our prayers will be more earnest, intense and life-giving. The Word of God will come alive. We’ll be more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, receive incredible revelation, and be quicker to repent.
This is indeed a great treasure and priceless pearl because we’re often poor in spirit to begin with because of some loss or affliction. And this, quite frequently, is because of our own sin.
The light we experience in God’s presence when we’re poor in spirit enables us to see and line up with the truth we were blind to before.
Powerful Prayers Are Heartfelt
Our prayer are more powerful when they’re heartfelt. This is why king David constantly said “In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me” Psalm 120: 1.
This isn’t just figurative language. Strong’s Exhaustive Dictionary of the Bible uses the idea of accosting someone to define the word cried in this verse.
This is a pretty aggressive word picture. Strong emotions make our prayers more effective.
Those heartfelt prayers are also much more likely to strengthen us (infuse us with peace, joy, comfort and encouragement). And this prepares us for the temptations and battles of the day.
Also, the insights we glean from the Word of God will change our lives, as we walk in them. And they will enable us to minister to and comfort others too.
Loss Can Expedite the Process of Knowing God
Grief and loss also can greatly expedite the process of knowing God and learning His ways. And when we’re led by the Holy Spirit, we’re led into greater blessing, power, and ability to minister to others.
And ultimately gaining the Kingdom of God because of our loss will increase the likelihood of fulfilling His call on our lives.
To read another post related to How to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven, see What Does It Mean to be Crucified with Christ?