"Rambhau!" exclaimed David Morse, a missionary. "Why, it's a treasure!"

   "Yes, a good one," shrugged the diver, "but there are better pearls - much better. Why, I have one . . ." His voice trailed off. "See this one - the imperfections: the black speck here, this tiny dent; even in shape it is a bit oblong, but good enough as pearls go."

   "Your eye is too sharp for your own good, friend," lamented Morse. "I would never ask for a more perfect pearl!"

   "It is just as you say of your God. To themselves people look perfect, but God sees them as they actually are."

   "You're right, Rambhau. And God offers perfect righteousness to all who will simply believe and accept His free offer of salvation. Can't you see that, my friend?"

   "No, Sahib. As many times I have told you before, it's too easy. That is where your good religion breaks down. I cannot accept that. Perhaps I am too proud. I must work for my place in heaven or I would always be uncomfortable."

   "Oh, Rambhau!" behind the missionary's words were years of prayer for this man. "You'll never get to heaven that way. There's only one way. If you want to see heaven’s gates of pearl you must accept the new life God offers you through His Son."

   "Sahib, today is my last day of diving. This is the last month of the year, and I have preparations to make. On New Year's day I will begin my pilgrimage. All my life I have planned it. I shall make sure of heaven this time. I am going to Delhi on my knees."

   "Man! You're crazy! It's 900 miles to Delhi. The skin will break on your knees, and you'll have blood poisoning before you get to Bombay."

   "No! I must go to Delhi. Then the immortals will reward me. The suffering will be sweet, for it will purchase heaven for me.''

   "Rambhau, my friend! How can you do this when Jesus Christ has died to purchase heaven for you?"

   "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. But even you cannot turn me from this great desire to purchase eternal bliss. I must go to Delhi."

   It was useless. The old pearl diver could not understand, could not accept the free salvation of Christ.

   One afternoon Rambhau invited Morse to come with him to his house. "I have something to show you," he said. "I leave for Delhi just one week from tomorrow, you know," declared the diver as they neared his house. The missionary's heart sank.

   Inside, Rambhau quickly brought out a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," he said. I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it. Sahib Morse, I once had a son."

   "A son! Why Rambhau, you never said a word about him !"

   "No Sahib, I couldn't." Even as the diver spoke tears came to his eyes. "Now I must tell you, for soon I must leave. My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coast of India. What joy he brought to me! He always dreamed of finding a pearl beyond all that had ever been found. One day he found it, but he had already been under water too long. He lost his life soon after." The old man bowed his head, and for a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound.

   "All these years I have kept the pearl, but now I am going, never to return, and I give this pearl to you, my best friend."

   The diver worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he grasped a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary. It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and it glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

   "This pearl, Sahib, is perfect," said the Indian quietly.

   Morse gazed in wonder at the priceless gem. "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl! Let me buy it. I will give you $10, 000 for it.

   "Sahib! What do you mean?"

   "Well, I will give $15, 000 for it, or if it takes more I will work for it."

   "Sahib," said the old man, his body stiffening, "this pearl is beyond all price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift."

   "No, Rambhau, as much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am too proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it."

   The old pearl diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life blood of my son. I cannot sell this, but I can give it to you. Just accept it as a token of my love for you."

   The missionary was choked and could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man, "Rambhau, don't you see? That is just what you have been saying to God."

   The diver slowly began to understand.

   "God is offering to you salvation as a free gift. It is so great and priceless that no man on earth could buy it. No man on earth could earn it. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life blood of His only Son to open the way for you into heaven. All you can do is accept it as a token of God's love for you, a sinner. Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"

   Great tears were falling down the cheeks of the old man; the great veil was lifting; he understood at last. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation."

   How about you, my friend? Are you trying to earn your way to heaven? God's Word says,

   "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).

   "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Tit 3:5).

   "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph 2:8-9).

   "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

   "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

   Trust in Jesus Christ now and be saved! He is your only hope of heaven.