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#### The Nature of Those Things about which Wisdom’s Merchants Deal

{Proof That the Heavenly Trade is the Best Trade

The Nature of Those Things about which Wisdom’s Merchants Deal}

The things with which this heavenly trade is conducted are, by their very nature, things of greatest worth. They are wares that cannot be purchased even by all the world’s wealth, and their worth is more than that of all the world’s wealth. They are all great, glorious, and excellent things. There is nothing low, contemptible, or useless among all the goods that wisdom proposes to the soul’s choice and acceptance. They include the favor of God, redemption from Hell, pardon of sin, peace with God, the graces of the Holy Spirit, communion with the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, communion with saints and angels,144 walking with God, spiritual blessings, joy in the Holy Spirit, heavenly treasures, and assurance of glory. These are all things of incomparable value and the things with which heavenly traders trade. And, are not these far better in their nature than the low, dirty, fading things of this world?145 No onyx, sapphire, crystal, coral, pearl, topaz, rubies, or the most costly pieces of nature can compare with this pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45–46),146 this stone cut out of the mountains (Daniel 2:44–45),147 or those spiritual treasures that are the objective of this heavenly trade. Let those who know the worth of things be judges. Call in wisdom’s skilled jewelers. Let God, the saints in Heaven, and angels speak concerning this matter. Their verdict will be that wisdom’s wares weigh down148 all else as to their innate excellence. I will propose just three pieces of evidence to prove this fact, and they are of unquestionable validity and a sufficient proof of this truth. They are:

1. Scripture

2. Experience

3. Reason

144Communion with saints on earth is visible now. When we worship God, we have invisible communion with saints in Heaven and angels who are continually worshiping God.

145This may be a surprising description of worldly goods to one who is materially well off and has “nice things.” But it is an understated description if compared with spiritual blessings. Also, things refers not only to material things, but intangible things like pleasure, entertainment, and so on. The Lord Jesus is infinitely more valuable than even our dearest relatives.

146“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46 NKJV).

147“And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure” (Daniel 2:44–45 ESV).

148weigh down: a reference to a two-pan balance (scale).

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