Treasure

I began these writings prior to our current pandemic.  I thought life was crazy then, and now we are in a whole new normal. My goal in these writings was to reflect on what the Bible says about life, recognize the rising conflict in our times, and understand how we are to live with Scripture as our guide. Through my life’s experience I have come to understand that the Bible is more than a book of irrelevant poems, parables, and prose.  As I have pointed out in prior writings, archeology in our world is corroborating the Scriptures on a regular basis.  As well, recent experiences are forcing me to look again to this book to determine its relevance to my everyday life and decisions.

Do I really believe what the Bible says about the purpose of our world or its relevance to my everyday living?  Truly I have struggled my entire adult life to understand.  Daily I declare that I choose to believe in the words of Scripture despite my struggles.  My soul resonates to it’s truth and I have experienced a God that came down to my humanity to bring me His saving grace.  

Even so, I pray regularly for the Lord to supplant my human tendency for unbelief.  Wouldn’t it be so much easier to think that life is only the here and now; that there is no reality beyond this existence?   Through writing I can examine the Scriptures, share my thoughts, discuss the reasons for my beliefs, and remind myself how to live a biblical based life.  Also, my hope is that someone who wouldn’t normally attend church or seek the gospel from traditional venues happens upon these writings and is inspired to consider it’s truth.

As much of the Bible in written in story and parable forms, we must look below the surface to understand the depth of it’s message.  Its use of parables is no different than using our current form of entertainment to illustrate spiritual principles.  For example, in our modern times many preachers and teachers use scenes from modern movies to illustrate scriptural truths. In using the current culture’s medium of entertainment, sometimes a complex spiritual truth is more easily taught and understood. In biblical times, story telling and parables were the medium of entertainment to illustrate the complex message of the gospel in the New Testament. 

Jesus told his disciples why he spoke in parables: “Therefore, I speak  to them in parables because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13).  In other words, wisdom and understanding of biblical principles are there for those who seek to understand but is foolishness to those who choose not to take the mental energy to understand that which would then require them to let go of their previously held humanistic convictions.  Parables were earthly stories with heavenly meanings meant to illustrate spiritual truths to believers and were incomprehensible to those who chose not to believe (“Why did Jesus Speak in Parables?”, Don Stewart).  

Those who understand then recognize the treasure they are being offered. Those who do not, relish in their own intellect, choose to define life on their own, and move on guided by their humanistic nature. This is explained in scripture, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”, I Cor 2:14 NKJV.

Treasure is considered any item which requires searching and seeking to find.  In fact, Scripture defines itself as a treasure that only few seek. Hidden treasure can only be discovered with diligent searching. For any treasure hunter, there are voices along the way that confirm or cause doubt to the relevance of searching for something that others consider an illusion or misguided dream.  

The search for the truth contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible is like finding something far more precious than gold or silver.  For treasure is promised to those who are diligent in seeking to find, understand, and for those who choose to set aside their own definition faith. “If you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4 – 5).

I encourage you to seek to find this treasure which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. These days our world is growing dark and the only hope to be found is in the God of the Bible. Only He can provide forgiveness, grace, unconditional love, and mercy. He is a treasure to be found, not bought or earned. Not by your effort, not by your works, not by what you do or don’t do. Not by the number or quality of your prayers, not by clearing your mind, not by searching for enlightenment or finding nirvana. Not by your works but by His free gift at the cross. And once you have found this treasure, all that is required is acceptance, belief, and faith. Accept that you are separated from a holy God by your self centered nature, believe in His work on the cross through Christ, and have faith to confess the truth you have found.