“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
– Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
In his classic book, Miracles, author C.S. Lewis gives us a wonderful illustration of Christ representing a pearl diver in search of hidden treasure. It’s a beautiful passage that your own eyes should read,
“One may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanishing rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too.” (Miracles, chap. 14).
Can you believe that you and I are that ‘dripping, precious thing’ Jesus went down to recover? If you’re like me, it’s a thought that seems beyond what my little finite mind can comprehend.
We’ve become quite comfortable here in our ‘region of ooze and slime and old decay.’ So comfortable that we forget that we were created for much more. The Son of God volunteered to descend into the depths of darkness in order to bring us into His glorious light.
Not only is this pearl diver the One who retrieves us, but his very life becomes the currency used in order to purchase us for display in the Father’s kingdom collection.
I can imagine the great Pearl Diver regaling the angels in heaven with stories from some of his deep dives…
“I found this one in the depths of despair and depression.”
“This beauty was pulled from the sea of drug & alcohol addiction.”
“A shark tried to snatch this one away from me but I eventually got her to safety. Got a few scars to prove it but you should see the shark…at least what’s left of him.”
Perhaps even now the angels are on the edge of their seats hearing Him tell your story.
Reflection: How does it feel to know how valuable you are to the Pearl Diver and his Father? As a Kingdom Writer, can you find creative ways to weave in your story of going from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light with your readers?