9 June 2014 “Treasure Hunters”
Matthew 7:17
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Only a few ever find it... That means that a lot of people who think they’re Christians because they live in America or acting like Christians because they go to church really aren’t Christians.
The road is difficult... Someone might genuinely start out with the intention to sincerely follow Jesus, but they get captured by their own desires or impatient because of their own expectations. Jesus says in Luke 7:23, “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.” So that means it is possible for people to turn away from him if we want to, and some certainly will.
Only a few ever find it... This makes me think of treasure and treasure hunters. There is a very small group of people whose profession is professional treasure hunter. They make Discovery Chanel shows about them. They sell all they have to buy equipment to help them find buried or sunken treasure. They don’t keep regular business hours or lead normal lives. The possibility of finding something precious motivates them to keep going even when they reach a dead end. Only a handful of people live this way and and even smaller percentage of that actually hit it big. A committed treasure seeker will spend their entire life never giving up on what they believe is out there.
Likewise, those who give up everything to follow Jesus (including their expectations on what their life should look like) are assured and promised real treasure. And I’m not just talking about the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). I find treasure every day: peace in my heart where there should be panic, joy in my heart when I should be upset, and hope in my heart when there’s no proof of change. These are miracles, blessings, presents (whatever you want to call them) from God every day for those who love and trust him. Few will find them because they are more concerned with God fixing everything to our liking now. But blessed is the one who doesn’t turn away. Blessed right now - even if circumstances don’t change. Unfortunately, few have the heart of a treasure hunter.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! (Matthew 13:44-46)
Dear God,
I want it! I want all that is included with following you. I don’t want to live like everyone else so that I don’t have to live like everyone else! Thank you for blessing me with your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Thank you for preparing a home for me right now so we can be together forever like you promise in your Word. That is worth giving up all my self-entitlements and preferences for, and I don’t ever want to be one of the ones who loses patience for and loses sight of all you’ve done. You are great and greatly to be praised and most deserving to be followed every day. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Matthew 7:17
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Only a few ever find it... That means that a lot of people who think they’re Christians because they live in America or acting like Christians because they go to church really aren’t Christians.
The road is difficult... Someone might genuinely start out with the intention to sincerely follow Jesus, but they get captured by their own desires or impatient because of their own expectations. Jesus says in Luke 7:23, “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.” So that means it is possible for people to turn away from him if we want to, and some certainly will.
Only a few ever find it... This makes me think of treasure and treasure hunters. There is a very small group of people whose profession is professional treasure hunter. They make Discovery Chanel shows about them. They sell all they have to buy equipment to help them find buried or sunken treasure. They don’t keep regular business hours or lead normal lives. The possibility of finding something precious motivates them to keep going even when they reach a dead end. Only a handful of people live this way and and even smaller percentage of that actually hit it big. A committed treasure seeker will spend their entire life never giving up on what they believe is out there.
Likewise, those who give up everything to follow Jesus (including their expectations on what their life should look like) are assured and promised real treasure. And I’m not just talking about the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). I find treasure every day: peace in my heart where there should be panic, joy in my heart when I should be upset, and hope in my heart when there’s no proof of change. These are miracles, blessings, presents (whatever you want to call them) from God every day for those who love and trust him. Few will find them because they are more concerned with God fixing everything to our liking now. But blessed is the one who doesn’t turn away. Blessed right now - even if circumstances don’t change. Unfortunately, few have the heart of a treasure hunter.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! (Matthew 13:44-46)
Dear God,
I want it! I want all that is included with following you. I don’t want to live like everyone else so that I don’t have to live like everyone else! Thank you for blessing me with your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Thank you for preparing a home for me right now so we can be together forever like you promise in your Word. That is worth giving up all my self-entitlements and preferences for, and I don’t ever want to be one of the ones who loses patience for and loses sight of all you’ve done. You are great and greatly to be praised and most deserving to be followed every day. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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