Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunting has always been a thrill. For the gold diggers of old it was real, for most of us an amusement. As  a child I remember the excitement over treasure hunts and maps that lead to an X that "marks" the spot. Even Billy Crystal with his widely successful City Slickers II, featured Crystal and Jack Palace and their posy seeking a treasure chest. The Count of Monte Cristo is about Edmund Dontess find the treasure of Sparda and using it to get revenge in Alexander Dumas masterpiece novel which has been adapted to film many times. The thrill of gold waylaid Christopher Columbus, who in his journal wrote that the Lord had told Him to map the New World and do what eventually his replacement Magellan did. Columbus' lust for gold cost him his calling in Christ, and enslaved many native Americans whom he called Indians, thinking He had landed in India. The quest for gold has driven men during "Gold Rush" mad, and killed hundreds if not thousands of people. But what is it about this shiny golden rock that makes men's hearts stop and their eyes light up? Chiefly it is what it can buy. Gold is still at present a valuable commodity, and by ounce and pound it can make a person wealthy in this world.

All this treasure hunting got me to thinking, what if men sought God like they do God? What if at end of map, the X was the St. Andrew's Cross, and not atop a treasure chest? What if people instead sought the eternal the way they seek the material? What if the l from gold was removed and God became the treasure? Such a notion is not new, but comes from Christ Himself who said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:15-46). The Pearl of Great Price is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ Himself and that is way into the Kingdom. In fact, our Lord and Savior makes this point, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust^[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21). Jesus Christ who made all things and who is God is right. Gold is but a rock, like copper, iron, and nickel, it was made by Christ (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) and it is worthless in time. People want gold to give them a good life, to live it up, to have ease, and enjoy excess, decadence, and pleasure. But most millionaires and rich folk will tell you that ruination lies in riches, for they fear at any moment the quickly won wealth can be lost as quickly as it was got, and so they lose sleep and anxiety overwhelms them. This is what Jesus undoubtly meant when He said, "As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful," (Matthew 13:22), and "but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." (Mark 4:19). The Apostle Paul echoes our Lord and Savior, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows," (1 Timothy 6:10), and "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9). It is clear that the lust for wealth comes against the Word who is Jesus (John 1:1-2, Revelation 19:11-16). Hence why Jesus says you must chose one of the two masters, God or gold, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:13). 

In the last days, which we are most likely in, it will be dangerous to have wealth and gold. For we are told by the Prophet Ezekiel they will help no one on day of God's wrath, "'They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin." (Ezekiel 7:19). I often see these commercials with Pat Boone, which tout that if you invest in gold, your money will be safe. The truth is that money cannot save you. Ezekiel via Spirit of God gives us glimpse into the future, just as Zachariah does in Chapter 14, of the Day of the Lord's Wrath. Jesus Christ Himself chastises a Church that thinks it is great because of its wealth, I argue that this church is what most churches in America are, "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation  “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! ¹⁶ But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want (have become wealthy). I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. ¹⁸ So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. ¹⁹ I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference." (Revelation 3:14-19). The Lord Jesus has ill words for those who think treasures, riches, wealth, and gold will save them. Christ offers another kind of gold, a precious Pearl of Great Price, He offers Himself, the Light of the World which is more brilliant the glitter of gold. And yet many in American churches are like Laodicea, content in their riches and lukewarm in their resolve and full of compromise. 

To be truly rich we must dig (disciple) under Jesus. All the gold and money in this world will rust and soil, or be stolen. If you cling to wealth you will find yourself empty and a fire will come for you that can't be quenched (Revelation 20:15). But should you cling to the Word of God, Jesus Christ you shall have stairway to heaven (John 1:38) and by believing in Him as Lord (Jehovah, God), you shall have eternal life (John 6:40), and a city of gold and precious gems will be your home (Revelation 21:1-58). But to have the Treasure Jesus Christ, and to eventually enjoy eternal treasures, you must resist the allure of the gold of this world, and instead buy gold from Jesus Christ by being his disciple, and carrying a cross (Luke 9:23). The losses in this world will be gains in next. Salvation is a gift and free through Jesus and His sacrifice, but eternal rewards for faithful service and devotion to Christ will await us in form of crowns (2 Timothy 4:8, 2 Timothy 2:1-15), thrones (Revelation 3:21), and city of the precious gold and gems that people covet in this world, and that God made, and shall be free to access and touch by every Christian believer (Revelation 21:1-18). But the Ultimate Treasure is God, not gold. The City of gold and gems known as New Jerusalem will be like a pale light and glitter compared to God and the Lamb, whose presence will give us more joy, pleasure, ecstasy, and fulfillment than any amount of golden coins on this earth, and what is great is that presence is available now, for all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10) and shall be in fullness at Christ's Second Coming. 

Follow Jesus and get eternal treasure. You will receive Him the Ultimate Treasure, then the Treasure of Eternal Life and Heaven, and finally New Jerusalem of treasures. Don't waste sweat on this earth seeking riches that perish, but instead buy gold from Jesus (Revelation 3:18), and make Jesus your treasure chest, make Him your gold who is God, and stop chase the golden cafes in the wilderness that lead simply to death. Amen.