TREASURE
...in Earthen Vessels
When I was a kid I used to dream about one day finding a treasure map which would lead me to the greatest riches imaginable. I don’t think I was the only one to suffer from this grand delusion. Almost every ten year old boy, and some girls, had the same notion.
Unfortunately, many have taken the wild dreams of childhood into adulthood, and are still looking for buried treasure, using any tool of discovery at their disposal. I too continued on that same path, searching for purpose and worth.
Maybe the search for riches, so that I could have anything my heart desired?
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. - Ecclesiastes 5:10
Maybe happiness could be found through alcohol, or drugs?
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. - Ecclesiastes 2:3
I could go on with the plight of King Solomon. But, I won’t.
King Solomon had the very same desires that we all have. And, he was the King, and beloved son of a great King. How cowuld he have the same issues as you and me? Solomon tried everything possible to find purpose. I think that if Solomon were around today he would have tried every possible product advertised to alleviate problems.
He came to discover his problem:
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 12:8
The problem would later be revealed by the Apostle Paul:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - Romans 3:23
Each and every person has the same problem, as well as the same solution to the problem:
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. - Romans 3:24-26
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:23
So many Believers struggle with life issues because they trust their flesh rather than the Lord Himself. They have been trained to look at their own works to “make sure of” their salvation.
They trust themselves rather than Christ.
Along with that they hold allegiances to the traditions they’ve been taught, rather than their knowledge of Christ Jesus. There are many that claim that we should not trust knowledge, but to let it go, and trust the experience. After all, just using the Bible is not authentic enough. We need the authentic practices of the mystics!
This is incredibly problematic in many ways. When we place experience over Biblical Truth, we’ve made that Biblical Truth irrelevant. The Bible is the source of knowledge of the Lord!
Regarding Israel, Paul said:
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. - Romans 10:2
Had they had knowledge of their Scriptures they would have believed in their Messiah, and not stumbled at the Stumbling Stone:
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 9:30-33
The Believer has only the knowledge and understanding of the Gospel to minister to others - and self! What great treasure we have right now!
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:1-3
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. - 2 Corinthians 4:5-7
You can stop searching for treasure in all wrong places. It’s not even buried, but it has been deposited into these broken, earthly vessels we possess.
The question is: Do you believe it?
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: - Colossians 2:10
What part of “complete” do you not understand (Thanks, Hal)?
Bob Picard
Pastor, God’s Grace Bible Church, Millbury, Massachusetts 01527