The Resurrection Offer: A Gift Beyond Measure
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than just a holy event—it is a free gift waiting to be received. Many Christians recognize the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection, but do we truly treasure it? Do we cling to it as tightly as we do our most valued possessions, like a wallet or a purse? Jesus is not only our hope—He is our way into a promised future filled with heavenly treasures.
Jesus compared the Kingdom of Heaven to an invaluable treasure: “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.”
—Matthew 13:44-46 (RSV)
Will You Accept Christ’s Precious Gift?
A pearl of great value—what an offer! Who wouldn’t appreciate a gift of such worth? Yet, the real question is, how much value do we place on it? Would we be willing to leave everything behind, as Abraham did when God called him? Or would we be like the rich young man in Matthew who asked Jesus:
“What do I still lack?” This young man had kept God’s commandments, yet Jesus saw his heart. He wanted him to commit fully, to place the promise of eternal life above all else. Jesus told him: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But sadly, the young man valued his earthly possessions more than the eternal treasure Jesus offered.
How about you? Will you accept this offer, or are there things you hold more valuable?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
—1 Peter 1:3
We have been given an opportunity—the same opportunity Adam had in the Garden of Eden: the choice of eternal life. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
—Romans 6:4
In His Resurrection, Jesus Paid the Penalty for Sin
Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and in return, He calls us to live righteously. Though we may stumble at times, we must press forward toward the goal. When we fall short, we have an advocate—Jesus Himself—who intercedes for us before the Father.
Through grace and mercy, God offers us a path to repentance and forgiveness. As Paul writes in Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, who are zealous for good works.”
A righteous man knows his true goal—the Kingdom of God. That is why he prays: “Thy Kingdom come.” He does not pray for this world to be saved, because he knows it is passing away, along with all its perishable treasures, like silver and gold.
Accepting the Resurrection Offer is All That Matters
Paul understood this truth well. He recognized that everything he once valued was worthless compared to knowing Christ. He wrote:
“Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”
—Philippians 3:7-14
Unlike the rich young ruler, Paul embraced the Resurrection offer wholeheartedly. In today’s world, your earthly treasures, accomplishments, and good deeds mean nothing if you do not walk with Jesus and accept His resurrection offer. So, will you accept it?