The Lesson Of The Pearl

There are some truths regarding the pearl which can parallel our
spiritual experience. The natural oyster shell outwardly is very rough
and unattractive, but within, the beautiful smooth and round pearl
develops as the result of a grain of sand or other foreign matter which
gets inside the oyster and causes what seems to be an unnecessary
irritation and suffering. This all takes place in the depths of the sea.
After the death of the oyster, the beautiful pearl of great value is
released and revealed. The words in (Ps 42:7) "...all thy waves and thy
billows are gone over me", but within, a very beautiful work is going on
and one day it will be revealed.

Jonah, from restrictions put on him by God in the depths of the sea
brought forth the pearl of *_submission_*. Job, from restrictions put on
him by the devil in the depths of suffering and loss brought forth the
pearl of *_confidence_* in God. Peter, from the depth of failure
experienced in his own life, brought forth the pearl of *_humility. _* *_
_*

Joseph, from the depths of loneliness, restrictions put on him by man,
brought forth the pearl of *_communion_* with God. The lesson of the
oyster is that, what seems against us is really for us. In eternity, we
will be most thankful for what we found it hardest to be thankful for in
our life time. Things we naturally found it easy to be thankful for will
mean little to us then. One would like to respond to the restrictions,
sufferings and experiences in life in this same manner, and one day it
will be revealed what has been developing in the heart and spirit: the
life and nature of Christ coming to maturity. This is my grief and I
must bear it!

The Oyster

There once was an oyster whose story I tell, who found that some sand
had got under his shell.

It was only a grain but it gave him a pain, cuz oysters have feelings -
for all they're so plain.

Now, did he berate the workings of fate that had led him to such a
deplorable state?

Did he call down the government, cry for election or claim that the sea
should have given him protection?

No! He said to himself as he lay on the shelf, "Since I cannot remove
it, I'll try to improve it".

The years rolled by as the years always do, and he came to his ultimate
destiny - stew!

The morsel of sand that had pained him so, was a beautiful pearl all
richly aglow.

The tale has a moral for isn't it grand, what an oyster can do with a
morsel of sand!

And what couldn't we do, if we'd only begin with all of the things that
get under our skin.