Yesterday as I was trying to chisel out a piece of broken pvc pipe compliments of #snovid21, a random thought popped into my mind: I should sharpen my chisels.
Conviction set in especially since I’ve never sharpened my chisels. Not since I bought them in the late ’80s. Yes – over 30 years of my chisels getting along on their own.
Upon googling “sharpening Bahco 8032 Ergo Chisels” I discovered my chisels hail from elite chisel genes.
Marry up the facts that master woodworkers love them AND Bahco no longer makes them and you’ve got yourself chisel gold. As in each chisel is worth $130-$250 on eBay. Seriously.
They’ll need a separate paragraph in my will.
Jesus once told a story about how the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13.45,46)
The parable speaks of the incredible value of being part of Jesus’ Kingdom. It’s more valuable and more important than anything else in your life. It’s worth liquidating everything – if that’s what it took to get in.
Fortunately, it’s not. We get in by invitation. Hand-delivered by Jesus.
We don’t have to buy it or pay it off monthly like a gigantic credit card bill.
We don’t have to make a case for why we should be chosen. Or forgiven. Or blessed.
Jesus simply chooses us and gives it to us. Freely.
Many get the invitation but choose not to accept it. They don’t see the value in it. They think the chisels are just old tools not worth much.
Or they prefer to keep being king or queen of their own kingdom. Trying to earn their way. Appease God. Or pretend He doesn’t exist. All dead-ends.
When you look at Jesus, what do you see? When you hear His words of grace, what do you hear?
How valuable is Jesus to you? I suspect it has to do with how valuable you think you are to Him.
You’re worth more than the greatest pearl ever found. You’re worth more than a fancy chisel in a workshop. You’re worth Him selling everything – including Himself – to get you a front-row seat to eternity.