With just a story to go on and a desire to find something important Mel Fisher invented some sort of underwater detection device, packed in his whole life and spent more than a year scouring the seabed without finding so much as a nail. Undeterred he then asked a friend to go searching through Spanish maritime archives looking for clues. Which they eventually found and which helped them pinpoint the right spot in the sea. By the time he had found what he thought was the missing ship he had run out of money to actually excavate it!I suppose that if someone were to tell you that there was a million pounds worth of gold buried somewhere within a five mile radius of your house, you would put in some effort to find it. You would not give up if you hit rock after rock - not if you had an assurance that the treasure was really there. You wouldnt give up after a week of searching. Or after a month. You would spend some money and invest in equipment and the right kit so that you could do the job properly. Because you would reckon that the end goal would outweigh any time and effort and expense you had to put into finding that treasure. You might give up your job and go at it full time. You might enlist your family and friends and promise them a cut of the spoils. Because lets face it, a million pounds is a life changing amount.
Jesus likens the gospel to treasure. Matthew 13 : 44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.“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.
I think we tend to read those verses and think that they apply to the process of becoming a christian. Surrender all to Jesus and hand over your life and BINGO! you have got the reward. But Im not so sure thats the full story. The kingdom of heaven is about making Jesus king in the here and now. And that is an ongoing process isnt it? Making Him king of our finances and King of our relationships, our parenting, our eating, our driving, our decision making, our humour, our sleeping and our internet habits :-) We sell all we have and we buy a field in which we already know some treasure is buried. We have found a piece of the treasure. Arent we going to dig the whole field now to make sure there isnt any more?? Just owning the field isnt really all that exciting is is? Actually handling the treasure - now that's the buzz! Digging for truth and understanding. Searching out revelation and getting our hands dirty in the life lessons which form Godly character in us. Unearthing Godly principles and finding the nuggets of truth which sustain us in difficult times. Owning the field is not enough. We need to dig and keep digging.
The treasure hunter on the television spent 16 years diving the seas determined to find all the treasure he believed was there. He didnt give up. Even when disaster struck. When the money ran out. When the storm hit and people died. And then one day he found it! And it was all worthwhile. He said ' I just wanted to shout out to the whole world what Id just found!' Just like we do every time we have another revelation of the treasures of God.
One day we too will see all the wonders God has got for us in their magnificent glory. We shall be ushered into His presence on streets of gold through gates of pearl and bow before the emerald rainbowed throne. Before that day we can choose to own a field. Or we can choose to dig for treasure.
Im off to get my wellies :-)
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