PEARLS

Gates of Pearls.

Rev21:21 ...the twelve gates were twelve pearls : each individual gate was a pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold , like transparent glass (NKJ)

Isa 60:18c ...but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise..(NKJ)

I have always been fascinated by pearls which are found in oysters. Many years ago, I remembered visiting a pearl factory in Hawaii and being introduced to various kinds of pearls and how they are ‘produced and harvested’. What impressed me most was the lustre and the shine of each pearl though they are often not perfectly round as I thought them to be but come in various size, shapes and colour.

Apparently, the whole process starts when the oyster detects a foreign object or irritant which has entered. In order to protect itself from being harmed, it releases an enzyme to cover and wrap around this object of irritant...so layers and layers were then formed to produce a pearl that we so value now..

Pondering over this process, I think we have a lesson to learn from...

Many times we are bombarded and attacked by so many things or events which will leave many wounds and scars on us if we do not learn to ride above the waves or rise above the storms of life...it may leave our heart bitter, dejected and bleeding –infected and festered with old wounds liken to a foreign object which has entered to harm us- an irritant...!!

I guess the Lord has provided us with all the means or the anecdote but it will still require us to apply them in order to be ‘whole’... when something enters and tries to ‘hurt or harm us’ , it should cause us to have an immediate ‘reaction’ ie to rid it off ; to deploy the best and most powerful weapon ie PRAISE..

Often times, I heard people telling me... "I have nothing to praise at the moment" -but despite the circumstance, disregarding what or who is right or wrong... bounce it off...
Heb 12:15 lest any root of bitterness spring up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled....

so as long as you have breath , you shall praise Him.

Psalms 150:6.. let everything that has breath praise the Lord..
Psalms 100:4 ...enter His courts with praise...

We are to turn everything back to Praise and bless His Holy Name because He dwells in the praises of His people;

because when we draw near to Him; He draws near to us ..;

because when the King of glory comes, the Lord God Strong and Mighty enters, He brings restoration, peace, joy and His love will envelope us..

as we go through each storm knowing that Jesus is in the boat and is the Anchor...

We can wrap the ‘irritant’ (whatever that maybe) with praise and we will come through luminous with the shimmer of a pearl- a precious Gate where our praise is lifted to the One and Only Lamb of God whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord... He is my Lord!!!

Psalms 24: 7 ... lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in...(NKJ)