His train filled the temple, the aroma of praise had a satisfying scent, yet something was missing. In the midst of the missing feelings, God had to make a decision. There was something about the character of God that desired a love that came through a challenge. The scripture says that God is Love. He experienced the multitude of praise from His holy angles, yet, desired more. He could see far off in the distant future, the depth of love through a challenge, through a struggle even; blood, sweat, and tears. He desired love as precious as a pearl. Looking into the distant future, afar off, He decided, I want that precious stone.

Lucifer, who is said to be a beautiful cherub, was created with a will and choice, as all of God’s image creatures. In the choice that God knew that He would take, He allowed Lucifer to become Satan. He did not stop him when that thought came into his mind, to rebel.

The Lord gives us free will also. Though He loves us, He gives us a choice. One third of those who would not choose the love through a challenge would be lost. Yet he afforded Lucifer the privileged to continue in his choice. “I will ascend above the highest. I will ascend above the throne of God.” Lucifer said. The choice was made, and as Satan prepared to fight against his Creator, one third of angels prepared to fight too. In a small conclusion, Lucifer and his imps were hurled down to war against the Lord God & His image creature, man. As Satan planned his attack, he chose a snake (a fitting weapon for a devil). In the body of this snake, Satan stole the rights to this world from Adam and Eve. Adam had a choice, as well all do, and he made it. Satan’s rebellion made way for man’s choice. He selected the desires of himself, not the challenge of love. In his actions, no incense went spiraling up to heaven, but the stench of the first sin. Yet God said, I want that precious stone in the distant future.

Grieved at the loss, God covered His image creature in skins as the first sacrifice was made, and the sweet savor went up to heaven. Pleasant was the smell of a challenge of love. Our Lord was looking for one who struggles in order to maintain a love relationship with Him. He had these born to salvation, and they were glorious. Their praise filled the heavens. They did His bidding; yet, God wanted the incense of a struggle to love Him. The Bible says: the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

How priceless is the catch of one who is willing to forsake all and follow the Lord. As priceless as a pearl formed in the deepest ocean. To struggle inside of a weight of the nature of sin that is incurable, and that will always be one’s number one enemy, to obtain the pureness of the holiness of God. One that is not only willing to turn their back on their very nature in order to belong to the Almighty. God could see this reward a great distant off, as He struggled against sin in the garden of Gethsemane. It was worth the casualties. It was worth the loss of the angels who would turn their back on Him. It was worth His very life to have this love from one formed also through suffering as the pearl is formed because of the irritation to the oyster. They would struggle against themselves, coming from sin to salvation. It was worth all to smell the incense of that burning. To hear the praise of those who come through great trouble and trials; feeling Jesus was worth every trouble they had to face. This would be just as Jesus felt of mankind. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believed in him should never die…This is what the Lord wanted most. To Him, the losses could not be compared with the rewards of that fragrance of the struggling of the pearl.

He was looking for the love of one who would struggle against their sin nature to give all the love they could give. As the man who found a field in which there was a pearl, the pearl of great price. He sold all that he had and bought that field. This was Jesus hanging on the rugged cross of Calvary, suffering and dying to buy the souls of men who to Him were that pearl of great price.

WAS GOD LOOKING FOR YOU? Acts: 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.