Please turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 13. And we'll read verses 45-52. 45-52 found on page 1127-1128. Let's listen again to the reading and hearing of God's Word this morning. Jesus tells us, again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore, and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said to them, have you understood all these things? They said to Him, yes, Lord. Then He said to them, therefore, every scribe instructed concerning the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out his treasure, things new and old." And then we also want to read verse 44. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Remember, the grass withers and the flower falls, but God's Word abides forever. I've chosen these two Kingdom parables, the one of hidden treasure and the other on the Pearl of Great Price, Because as I was thinking through this particular Sunday, I learned that what you're supposed to give someone at a 30th anniversary are pearls. And so as I was thinking about the idea of pearls, I remembered then Jesus telling us about the pearl of great price. And I thought it was rather fitting in thinking through what Jesus notes in relation to something that is of priceless value to consider that idea of something of priceless value in relation to our anniversary. The reason being is this, that we are here today because individuals some 30 years ago said, we want to be brought together based on the important and inestimable value of having a church where there may be sound preaching, the proper administration of the sacraments, and the good exercise of discipline." People longed for that. They desired that. They searched for it while they were here in the 80's, and there were congregations that they were a part of, and yet they said, this isn't quite it. There's something better. There's something more. And so in God's providence, this group in the RCUS was able to come together, and here we are today. All because individuals said, we have something that we value, we seek after it, and in seeking that which we value, the Lord then brings it about. Now, in looking at these couple of parables, it is in the context of the kingdom parables. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus basically tells seven different parables in order to convey to the disciples the proper understanding of what His kingdom is like. The disciples, being caught up in their day and age, had a certain idea as to the messianic kingdom, and they viewed it to be something that was going to be physical, and when it ultimately unfolded and came about, that it was going to be strong and mighty, it was going to overtake the government which they were captive to at the time, and the Messiah then would establish this kingdom, and it would then go forth with great might and strength. And yet Jesus then conveys to the disciples and to us something that's a little different. He notes, for example, that the kingdom is a spiritual one. that it's not based then on the sword that you would carry by your side, but rather based on the sword of the Spirit as it is cast forth like a seed. And the reception then of that seed, although it would be dispensed widely, would only be narrowly received. Even through its reception, there would still be imperfections that would exist within that kingdom. Because you then see the wheat, the good fruit, along then with the bad plants, the tares. That as this kingdom would go forth, it wouldn't be very impressive. It would only start out very small, like a mustard seed. And yet, with the Lord's blessing, in time it would advance, it would grow, and it would stand out in relation to all the other plants within the garden. And yet, nonetheless, as this Kingdom advances, it will have an impact. Although its influence is silent, it would nonetheless permeate wherever it would go the same way that leaven works through bread. And then Jesus comes to these two parables. A treasure and a pearl. a treasure, and a pearl. And highlighting these things to the disciples and to us, He wants us to see that when we rightly understand our place and our position in His kingdom, and when we embrace His church, we see it as being something of tremendous value. And although it may be costly, it nonetheless ends up having great significant worth. Notice how Jesus conveys that. He tells the story of one individual who is surprised by a treasure. He's off doing his job out in the field, and while he's out in the field, he comes across Something that's buried. He finds it. Maybe he's digging a hole in order to plant a tree. Maybe he's digging a well. Maybe he's in the field plowing and the plow strikes against something and he immediately goes and looks at it. He begins to dig around it and find that there is this treasure. And as he digs through it, it's an invaluable find. We're not simply talking about finding a coin in the dirt We're not simply talking about walking through the store and finding that someone dropped a dollar or even five dollars. But we're talking about something that this individual in finding this says, I need to sell everything that I own in order to be able to secure this treasure. Now some of you might be sitting there thinking to yourself, why in the world would someone have a treasure buried? Well, this wouldn't be as if pirates had stolen something and were running away from the authorities, and so then they hide it so that they can come back to it later. But rather, people in Israel who were commoners or who weren't the upper echelon of society or of significant wealth, in order to keep their valuables safe, would go and dig a hole somewhere on their property and bury it. There was no place safe inside the home in order to hide money. After all, thieves would break in and steal. There weren't banks that were accessible to them, and so they utilized this means instead. But as events might transpire, the owner of the possessions might get called off to war. He might be called away on business, or he might eventually just die. And as a result, the treasure is forgotten. And so this individual finds this treasure. Rabbinic law basically said that if you find a treasure or find fruit, you do not have to seek the owner. It's yours. This individual, in light of finding this, instead of just simply taking the treasure off the property, seeks ways in order to eliminate everything else that he owns so that he might end up the possessor of this field and in turn, the securer of this treasure. That had to be some treasure. A merchant, one who is out seeking, finds a significant pearl. Now this is an individual who's an investor. He's a buyer and a seller. He would be out knowing what he's looking for, and he comes upon an incredible find. A pearl of significant value. Now, in order for this one to come across, the perfect pearl, it would basically be one in a million. After all, in relation to wild oysters that would bear natural saltwater pearls, only 1 in 10,000 oysters would produce a natural saltwater pearl. And for one of those pearls to then be of gem quality, it would have to be 1 in a million. And then you think about the upper echelon, the gem of the gem quality. This was something that was rare. This was a significant find that this individual made, so much so that he also sold everything that he had just so he could be in possession of this one single pearl. the rest of his life. And that was that. We see it happening with both of these individuals. We see value that comes forth in each of these lives. One who is seeking it, the other who isn't, and yet as they come face to face with this valuable item, they can't help but adjust their entire position and perspective so that they then acquire this valuable thing. Again, we're considering the priceless value. The priceless value of God's grace. What is it that we have that is valuable? Remember, Jesus was conveying to us thinking in relation to the Kingdom, the church. It's not something that you're going to put in your pocket. It's not something that is going to be physical. He's talking about something of spiritual worth. The greatest, most precious, most valuable thing that you can have is to know Jesus Christ. and to be in covenant relationship with Him as you're connected to His people. The Scriptures convey to us the riches of God in Christ. Turn with me to the book of Ephesians. The book of Ephesians 2.7. Beginning in verse 4, he notes God who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us made us alive in Christ. Verse 7, that in the ages to come, He might show, what? The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. The most valuable thing that you can have in this life is to know of the riches of God's grace through Christ. Turn one page over to Ephesians 3. Paul notes that he was given the opportunity to preach among the Gentiles what? The unsearchable riches of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4, verse 7, Paul notes that there is a treasure hidden in earthen vessels. That what? We may see the power of God at work in them. What exactly is this richness, this valuable gift given to us through Christ? Well, it's the gift that God has provided. What He has provided to us is a secure standing before Him. It's the knowledge that God then has addressed our need. He's addressed our condition. He's addressed our problem. He has resolved it through Jesus Christ. We see that in Christ, what has taken place in accordance with the plan and will of God is that He then came into this world. He lived under the law. He died for sin. And thereby, He turned the wrath of God against those who would trust in Him and be seen in Him. God has provided a great gift called the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. That even though we have offended Him, even though we have not loved Him, nor sought to glorify Him in any way in terms of our lives, God sets this gift before each one of us. The gift of assuring us that we might have a right relationship with the very God that we have offended. The richness of God's grace through Christ is that He gives it to us even while we don't deserve it. He gives it to us based on the merits of His actions and His love. He gives it to us as a gift that is sufficient and enough. He gives us a gift that is ultimately secure. so that there isn't anything else that we need to turn to nor look at nor find in its stead. The description of this gift as found in Jesus Christ cannot be weighed, cannot be measured. It is inestimable. It is invaluable. Listen to how Paul describes it in the book of Ephesians when he desires in his prayer that the church at Ephesus would what? Comprehend the width and the length and the depth and the height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that they may be filled with the fullness of God. The fact that you cannot come to the end of God's kindness to you through Christ. The fact that there isn't any sin that you can commit that isn't covered by the death of Jesus Christ. The fact that there isn't anything that you can do that can cause God's disfavor to be brought against you if you are truly standing in Jesus Christ shows us just how great and how wonderful the action of God to us through Christ truly is. And now you think about this individual in Jesus' story. Seeing this great treasure that he wasn't looking for, and yet here it is. And now he has to decide, what am I going to do with it? Here this other individual who is a seeker, who is longing to find that which is his life quest. And here it is. It speaks to the two types of people that are in this world. There are those who are truly wanting to have that sense of appeasement before God. They know the struggles that they have as they look at this one. They understand. They have some concept of who He is. And they long to see that sense of that God-shaped hole that is existent within their soul to be filled. and they seek pleasure, and yet it isn't a good treasure. They seek knowledge, and yet they find out that there's just more and more that they don't know. Some of you are seeking to find value in your wealth, and yet you realize that as you invest and as inflation catches up with it, it's not enough. Or you've invested it a certain way, and your deals haven't paid off, and it hasn't gone well. Some of you are attempting to find this based on the praise of others. You compete in sports, and yet you find that even as you think that championship would satisfy for you, it isn't enough. It's interesting, when you start talking to athletes, and they win the championship, they celebrate it for a moment, for a night, What are you going to do now? We're going to go win another one. Why? Because it wasn't enough to just have one. Here are these individuals seeking, longing, searching for value and position and standing, and yet Jesus says it's found in the gift of eternal life through Him. The knowledge that as this God is there, He says, come unto Me. Look unto Me. I have overcome all your sin. I have overcome all your insufficiencies, all your doubts, all your insecurities. Look to the gift of My Son and see the position that may be found in Him. Others aren't thinking in those ways. but here they come face-to-face with the reality that they must meet up with this holy God. Wasn't this the situation in some respects in Saul's life? On the one hand, he sought to find the answer and yet he thought he had it, and yet Christ was there face-to-face with him on the road to Damascus. And accordingly, he had to bow before Him and confess. This really shows that in terms of the inestimable value of grace, that as we come face to face with it, there must be a personal response. To obtain this kingdom, there must be an individual response. Both of these individuals who found the treasure did not simply say, oh, it's great that we found this, and then went on their way. They were moved and motivated by what they found in order to make a personal response. For some of you here today, you're trying to ride the coattails of your parents. You've gone through the steps You've been brought to church all the time that the doors are open. You've grown up in a Christian home. You've even gone through confirmation and have heard the instruction and have stood before the church and made an appropriate confession, and yet it was only a confession outwardly. The value of grace is the true securing of that profession, that heartfelt cry of Jesus Christ. Remember what Jesus tells Nicodemus that even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, He says, the one who looks to the Son and believes on Him is not condemned, but rather is saved. In John 5, Jesus says, he that hears My words and believes on Him that sent Me, he has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life. That ultimately is the gift. The gift of knowing that I will no longer be condemned, but have a secure standing before My Father in Heaven. The merchant buys the pearl. The worker sells all he has to buy the field. Both respond personally. Some of you have been seeking, and God is bringing you even today face to face with the message that sins can only be addressed through Jesus Christ, and calls you to cry out to Him, asking that God would cover over your sins through Jesus Christ. The call is to make today the day of salvation. There is a cost to this. This is a personal transaction that is costly. The individuals both sold everything in order to acquire this one thing. They lay hold of the prize of the treasure They secure the thing, the item, and yet they let go of everything else. What does this teach us? That there is a cost to following Jesus Christ. We recognize Him to be Lord, and as Lord, it means then that He is the One who directs our lives, who guides and directs our steps. Jesus notes that as we follow after Him, we must love Him above all others. He says, he that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. He that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Is He saying that we should no longer love our families? After all, the fifth commandment says that we're to honor and obey our parents. He's not encouraging us to disrespect mom and dad. or to not love our neighbor as ourselves. But he's noting that the priority in our life must be Him first and foremost. Elsewhere, Jesus tells His disciples, if you come after Me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me. Discipleship is costly. There is a sacrifice. There is something that is given up. We let go of self. We let go of self-rule. We let go of our own authority in order to submit to this One, Jesus Christ. And yet, it's not with drudgery. It's not with sadness. It's not with disdain. but rather it's with joy. Both these individuals, as they reflected on selling all in order to gain a box or a bag, as they sold all in order to gain one pearl, they did so with delight and with joy. Why? Because they saw the reward. They saw the riches. They saw the benefit. They saw the blessing. Listen to the words of Solomon in Proverbs 3 when he says, "'Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than that from silver, and the profit thereof than fine gold. She's more precious than rubies, and all the things that you can desire cannot be compared to her.'" What's the joy and the delight that you have gained through Christ? What is it that God has given you? Prior to knowing Christ, did you not struggle at times with a sense of your conscience before God? And yet, how often has He consoled you with peace? Haven't there been times in which you longed for a standing And yet now you have the assurance of that standing through Christ. Your perspective has been completely changed so that that which you place value on is different. At one time, you saw value in things which were temporary and passing away. And yet now you see that which is ahead, that which is future, that which is eternal. You understood that you were clearly on the path that was headed to the way of destruction. And yet now you're headed to the celestial city and the place of life. You at times wrestled with the burden of your sin, and yet now you know all has been forgiven you in Jesus Christ. Jesus says that as we come unto Him, His joy will remain in us and our joy then may be full. Do you remember the account of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19? He approaches Jesus and he says, good teacher, what must I do to have eternal life? Jesus encourages him with the commandments, which the one then notes, I've done all those things." And so Jesus then says, go and sell all that you have, give it to the poor, and follow Me. But when this one went away, what? He was sad. Because he loved his things more. Where did he find value? Where did he find joy? He found it in his stuff. He found it in his status, in his clout. He found it in the view of others that would look at him and say, that one's got it together. Jesus says, let go of all that and true joy may be found. The Apostle Paul encourages us also with this pursuit of joy Remember that in terms of his life, he recognized that he had a tremendous standing in the eyes of his countrymen. He could cite to his birth, his education, his religion, his practice, his efforts, and he could note that everyone would look at him and say, that was all excellent. And yet in the end, he cries out and he says, but those things that were gained to me, I counted lost. for Christ. I did so why? That I might be able to then note the excellency of the knowledge of Christ for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but rubbish, that I may win Christ. And to know then the love of God, the understanding of the consolation of Jesus Christ, and the comfort and encouragement that comes from Him. Discipleship is costly, but not when it relates to eternity. Because when Christ has been found, when He becomes one's all in all, when He is seen then as the gain, the treasure, the position, the value, Everything else then gets set into focus. It gets set into line. And consequently, those things fade in relation to the reality of God's grace through Christ. What does this mean for us then today? How do we think about this not just individually, but also then as a church? After all, we've been here for 30 years. Firstly, that we must rightly understand where our true treasure lies. Our true treasure, our true value, our true security stands in none other than the head of the church, Jesus Christ. That must be our foundation. It must be the strength of our life. It must be the direction of our focus and our attention. And it must ultimately be the longing and the joy of our lives to be found and identified in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To recognize that as we belong to Him, He truly then is our comfort in life and in death. Christ must be our focus. Christ must be viewed as being precious. Do you view Him in this way individually? Do we as a church see Him and value Him in this way as we come together in fellowship, in worship, in teaching, in interaction? Number two, we must be personally connected to Him by a true and living faith. Number three, we must have a sense of true commitment. The two individuals were so committed based on their understanding of the treasure that they had found that they gave up all in order to gain the thing. How is your Christian commitment brought out in your life? How do you do so as a child of God? How do you reflect this in your home? In your school? How do you reflect this in your job? How do you reflect this in your membership vows? as a member of Trinity Reformed Church. How often is our commitment a commitment by way of word, but lacking by way of life? Lastly, rightly understanding what has been had for us in Christ means that when we see that our all-in-all is in Christ, then we can only respond in real, heartfelt joy. No matter our circumstances. No matter the difficulty. No matter the hurt. No matter the anguish. Because we see even in the midst of those challenges and struggles, that God ultimately is helping us to better see and understand Christ. And when we do, the perspective of true joy and celebration and gratitude unto Him for all that He's done for us through that great gift that He's given, that treasure, rightly sets our attention and our focus before Him. We're meeting here today because 30 years ago, a few, met to worship God. To worship Him with a commitment and a longing and a love to rightly see Christ and to see Him clearly brought out in worship, in the sacraments, even in discipline. We give thanks to God for their beginnings. We give thanks to God for the way in which He has shown the greatness of this gift through the years. But may we then be committed looking ahead to remain committed, to remain focused, and also to remain attentive to the glory of God and celebration for the great gift that He's given through Christ.