Pearls in the Harbor
by Rev. Lorraine D. Coconato

Clamming, as a young child, on the shore of Long Island, New York, was a family endeavor. Leaving at sunrise, our family joined local cousins in boating to a shallow area where we would spend hours digging for clams with our bare feet. Mom would wash these lovely mollusks thoroughly and she would skillfully cut them open for all to eat. In childlike innocence, I would watch this arduous task, secretly hoping that one day, we would find a pearl; I later learned that pearls are not formed in clams, but instead, they are slowly formed in oysters and mussels.

Jesus likened the "kingdom of heaven" to obtaining a priceless pearl. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, sent and sold all he had and bought it." (Matthew 13: 45-46). Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price who purchased our salvation through His sacrifice at Calvary and ever since, He and His disciples have become "fishers of men," harvesting and growing pearls (disciples) for the kingdom!

Early this summer, my family and I went to see the movie, "Pearl Harbor." According to the memories of my parents, who accompanied us that day, this movie, with it's spectacular special effects, depicted the realism of the "sneak attack" on the island of Oahu, Dec. 7th, 1941. Though thousands of miles from the mainland of the United States, this aggressive act caused devastation, fear, the loss of lives and officially drafted the United States into active participation in World War II. My parents were visibly shaken wile watching this movie, recounting the emotions and events that flooded their minds, as fiery explosions and dread filled the screen. Tear-streamed cheeks could be seen throughout the theater, as young and old were powerfully impacted by what was viewed!

The Lord whispered to me during the most treacherous scenes, "Are My people prepared for such an attack?" I realized that the Lord was referring to our war-stance, our spiritual preparedness in case of a sneak attack, ambush or other unanticipated perpetration of violence and darkness. Would His people be caught slumbering, complacent, dabbling in the frivolities of daily living? Considering the multitudes of prayer manuals, teachings and articles on intercession that have been published in the last quarter century, could we, as a people and as a nation be caught unawares?

Yes, we have experienced many waves of prayer revivals, usually in the face of perspective danger, disease or great distress. Yet, how many of God's people, nationwide, seek Him fervently, passionately and persistently daily? Oftentimes, teachers convey that our time alone with Jesus in devotion and intercession is a hardship because of the busyness of an ordinary day. Others have assumed that fitting Jesus into our hectic schedules is difficult and nearly impossible. While another segment of the Body of Christ has deferred the responsibility of intercession to the "intercessors," believing that they are not called to such a task! Should it not be considered a privilege and a delight for His Bride to meet with Him daily? Should it not be the priority of our day to intercede, being that all the issues of life flow out of our soaking in His presence; that our lives, families, ministries, churches and the well-being of our nation depend on our partnership with God in affecting the course of history!

Pearls are beautiful and rare gems. Pearls are an aberration of nature. Oysters and mussels do not naturally form pearls. Pearls are formed when a piece of shell, grain of sand or other irritant falls within the shell of a mollusk, causing "mantle" cells to cover the irritant with a substance known as nacre. Layers of nacre harden into a tough iridescent luster, which after many years, forms a beautiful pearl. Romans 5:2 says that "we have access by faith into this grace," through Jesus Christ. The very fact that we (sometimes "irritants!") have access to the Pearl of Great Price,
Jesus, is a mighty miracle and more miraculous is that when we hide in Him, His luster begins to show on our countenance and we are gifted with His revelation. Throughout the process of our "pearlization" (forming), we learn to bring the irritants of live to the Lord in prayer and He graciously covers them with His mantle, simultaneously, layering us with His character.

Therefore, intercession benefits our world and beautifies us! So, beloved, He is calling pearls into the harbor. Like the miracle of pearl formation, it is not natural for us to desire the ways of the Lord. Like-wise, it is unnatural for us to love to prayerfully sit in His presence and deny the flesh. Recalling that the angels of God rejoice in holy celebration every time a sinner repents and commits his/her life to the Lord, we realize that "pearl formation" is not natural, it's divine! Come into the Harbor and become a pearl of great price!

Precious Lord, forgive us for our spiritual lethargy and unwillingness to petition You in all things! Soften us into pearls of prayer, covered by Your mantle of praise! May our luster be a reflection of hiding and abiding in You and may You, in Your mercy, cause the tides of life to draw us into Your Harbor, in Jesus' Name, Amen!

(This message, "Pearls in the Harbor," was preached on September 7th, at the Cornerstone Building of The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, Ca., Leaves of Healing Ministries. Noting the horrific terrorist attack on our nation on Sept. 11th, are we not be beckoned more earnestly by the Spirit of the Lord, to cocoon ourselves in Him, interceding passionately throughout our days?)

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