Priceless Pearls from the Lord
“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:21 NKJV)
Not long ago, I threw away a string of pearls.
Don’t worry, they weren’t real…just plastic beads covered by a pearly finish. They had yellowed badly over time and were no longer fit to wear.
I would never toss out real pearls! My beloved husband gave me pearl earrings for our first Christmas together. My parents gave me a pearl necklace for a special birthday. A very good friend of mine, who has now gone on to be with the Lord, gave me a pearl bracelet. All these pieces of jewelry are precious to me, not due to their monetary value but because of the loved ones who gave them to me.
Pearls have been prized possessions from the first time someone found one in an oyster. Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven as a “pearl of great price”—something so cherished it was worth selling everything else to obtain it.
Jesus knew about pearls. He created them while they were still hidden in iridescent seashells…little irritants that blossomed into magnificent treasures. The 12 gates to His heavenly home feature the same jewels but in unimaginable sizes—each in a single pearl entrance leading to golden streets.
But Jesus left us something more important and more valuable than pearls—His word. When He appeared on the evening of His resurrection to two companions on the road to Emmaus, He opened their eyes to the riches in His Scriptures, starting at Moses and the prophets (Luke 24:13-35).
Jesus often expounded on Scriptures in teaching His disciples and followers about the good news of salvation. Renowned preacher/author Charles H. Spurgeon described Christ as the “best of tutors” who used the “best of books”:
“…He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reason, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea.”
Think of it. If you have a Bible, it’s a treasure house of God’s gems. Can you count how many of His pearls of wisdom are contained in it? All you need to do is open it to any book to find myriads of His teachings, revelations, and comforts.
Spurgeon qualifies, though, how we can receive these jewels, saying that many can bring Scriptures to mind but only the Lord can prepare the mind to receive His word. “The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them.”*
Friend, you and I have access to the secrets of the universe, as revealed by Jesus to us through His word. Consider your Bible as a cherished gift from your very best loved One, a pearl of great price to be honored above all your other possessions…the source of His truth and teaching. When we neglect it, we fail to recognize its incredible value—especially for Christians who live in restricted countries without access to the written word.
If you’re able, take a moment today to open the Bible and release the power of His teaching. Ask His Holy Spirit to open your mind and eyes to give you understanding. Hide His words in your heart, meditate on them, and hold fast to their pearl-like promises of wisdom and joy. Let Jesus string them together—like the pearls that they are—to enrich your life.
Jesus, thank You for leaving Your word on earth so that we may follow in Your footsteps. Drive us to Your teaching every day so that we may learn Your wisdom. May You continue to open doors in restricted countries where Your truth will go forth in Your power, where Your words will change hearts and bring Your people to everlasting life with You. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #pearl #valuable gems #oyster #naturalpearls #genuinepearls #freshwaterpearls #wisdom #knowledge
*Spurgeon, Charles H., “Morning and Evening,” p. 22.
**For more information on how you can support sharing the word in restricted countries, go to The Voice of the Martyrs, vom.org.
