Choicest Pearl - Part 1
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls." Matthew 13:45 NLT
The story is told of David Morse an American missionary to India who became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.
Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Saviour he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner I would feel like a pauper there -- like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud but I want to deserve -- I want to earn my place in heaven and so I am going to work for it."
Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so many years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.
"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.
"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'".
"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi and I am going there on my knees." "Man, you're crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."
"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet for it will purchase heaven for me!"
"Rambhau, my friend you can't. How can I bear you to do it when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"
But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss -- I must go to Delhi!" Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him -- where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.
Part 2
Prayer: Father thank you for friends who care enough to share your word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Pastor Bill
"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls." Matthew 13:45 NLT
The story is told of David Morse an American missionary to India who became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.
Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Saviour he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner I would feel like a pauper there -- like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud but I want to deserve -- I want to earn my place in heaven and so I am going to work for it."
Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so many years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.
"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.
"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'".
"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi and I am going there on my knees." "Man, you're crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."
"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet for it will purchase heaven for me!"
"Rambhau, my friend you can't. How can I bear you to do it when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"
But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss -- I must go to Delhi!" Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him -- where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.
Part 2
Prayer: Father thank you for friends who care enough to share your word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Pastor Bill
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