Several years ago, while camping in the Kaibab Forest, my wife Lynda and I, tried our hand at panning for gold with dirt we had brought with us. With all the necessary tools at hand, we sat for hours swishing the water carefully revealing tiny flakes of gold. To our delight we also found several tiny nuggets. We picked up each nugget and flake with tweezers and put them in a small glass bottle. The next time we were near the gold prospector’s store we stopped and had the gold weighed and it was valued at $9.60. Hardly a treasure considering the amount of work involved.
The same is true concerning another of my many hobbies; metal detecting. I never expect to find anything of great value; though you never really know. I have metal detected on the beaches of California and found it to be frustration because I can’t walk well on sand. I have also tried to metal detect in Northern Arizona where the ground is so rocky and hard that I could not even get the shovel to pierce the ground.
Though there may be frustrations and disappointments, you never know what treasures you may find; and, if you do not find anything of value, you still enjoyed the ‘thrill of the hunt.’
At present, there are several reality shows on the History Channel that feature treasure hunting. The Curse of Oak Island is one such show that has two brothers, Rick and Marty Lagina searching for treasure that may have been buried by the Knights Templar in the last 1600s. So far, the brothers have invested over $10 million in their search.
While treasure hunting may be fun as our imaginations overflow with dreams of finding great riches, the truth is that earthly riches can never truly satisfy our hearts. Any such riches can disappear in a single moment as they can be lost, stolen, or become corrupted. But there is a treasure that never will suffer loss.
Jesus taught a parable to His disciples concerning a farmer that found treasure buried in a field that he was renting, or in the process of purchasing. Finding the treasure, the man sold everything he owned and purchased the field. Jesus likened it to the kingdom of heaven that is an even greater treasure than can be found on the earth.
The message was simply this: Earthly treasure fades away in light of eternity; spiritual treasure lasts forever. Gold and silver may excite the senses, but spiritual treasure satisfies the soul. Spiritual treasure is not just a city that glitters with gold, silver and every kind of precious stone; spiritual treasure is a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the treasure that will never fade away but will last forever.
- Pastor Jerry L. Dunn, Oak Street Baptist Church
