Treasure in Heaven

The largest naturally grown pearl in the world is the Giga Pearl. It weighs over 60 pounds and is owned by Abraham Reyes, a collector in Canada. He acquired it from his great aunt, who received it as a gift from his grandfather in Manila. The pearl was formed by a giant clam that can grow up to four and a half feet wide and weigh up to 550 pounds.

In the New Jerusalem, “each individual gate” is formed “of one pearl.” Imagine walking through the iridescent beauty of these stunning gates into the city of God!

Today, we know that pearls are created when a bit of irritating sand gets covered inside an oyster, layer upon layer, creating a pearl. It is not going through our trials alone that we enter through the gates of the city but because of Christ’s suffering: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

In the Gospels, we see the pearl and gate metaphors explained. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). And of Christ’s kingdom, “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” (Matthew 13:45).

And streets in the city will be “pure gold, like transparent glass.” On earth, we can’t see through pavement, but in the New Jerusalem, the beautiful foundation can be seen through the streets. The colorful and dazzling reminders of how our faith rests upon the truth of the apostles and prophets will always be a reminder that it was worth investing in heaven’s bank. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19, 20,21).

O Lord, I choose to lay up treasures in heaven. By faith, I will stand on Your promises that I may someday walk through the gates of the New Jerusalem.

For Further Study: Proverbs 2:1–9; Acts 14:22; Colossians 2:3

Key Bible Texts

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21 KJV)