“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.” 1
“Sell all that you have to buy the pearl of great price.” What is the pearl of great price? Scriptures say, “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all your getting, get understanding.” 2
“The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” 3
Therefore “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” 4
God opens our ability to hear and perceive His voice and discern His way as soon as we commit ourselves to a daily and sincere walk with Him. As we walk with God through difficult times, we begin to discover God’s pearls of wisdom (scriptures, thoughts, dreams, visions, promises, and impressions). It is those pearls that we should write in our hope chest (a journal) for continual reminders of God’s love and unfaltering devotion to our future. He uses discipline, tender mercies, teachings and promises to demonstrate His love and devotion to each of us. If we will believe and seek Him daily, He will fill our hope chests with many pearls of great price, which are His pearls of wisdom, personal promises, and revelations of His greatness.
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” 5
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is suitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 6
We will mark this book with some of the pearls from God we learned—for it is these pearls that gave us the hope and courage to endure the journey. Most quotations from the Holy Bible are taken from the King James version, or the New King James version.