“Again, 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.
Chicago Bulls and NBA superstar Derrick Rose recently returned to action after more than a year away from the game due to an injury. Naturally, I tuned in to watch some of his first game back on the court with his teammates. During that game an interesting commercial featuring Rose was aired. In the 30 second commercial, which I think is for a shoe company, Rose says:
“Let me tell you something. If you took away the money; if you took away the fame; the spotlight; if you took away the lifestyle and all that comes with it; if you took away all the flash; what would you have left?”
Then he answers his own question by saying, “Everything,” as the words “Basketball is everything” scroll across the screen.
It’s a great commercial.
I think it’s wrong, but I still think it’s a great commercial.
It’s a great piece because it makes an attempt to strip life down to it’s essence. It challenges us to jettison all the external baggage we carry around to make ourselves feel valuable and important in the world, and to look at what really matters.
The problem with the piece is that it doesn’t go far enough. It lands on basketball; which is just another external activity in which a person can temporarily locate his or her identity; but that, ultimately, just isn’t that important.
I know it’s just a commercial and that even Derrick Rose, in his heart of hearts, doesn’t believe basketball is everything. But, then, what is?
Again, 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.
I think Jesus is saying, like Derrick Rose in the commercial, “Take everything away; your job, your wealth, your house, your family, your health, your very life...and what’s left?”
Indeed, what is left?
Jesus is saying that the only answer that makes sense; the only answer that gives hope; the only answer that brings peace to our souls is, “the kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom of heaven is Jesus.
The kingdom of heaven is the gospel.
The kingdom of heaven is everything.
Pastor Brian Coffey
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