Hidden Treasure

"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 looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." Matthew 13: 44-46

When I read this parable this morning, I imagined myself as a child running through a field, expecting to find nothing but grass and wildflowers. Yes, the grass and wildflowers would have a beauty of their own, but my heart would be used to that. I imagine coming up on a treasure. Use your imagination here. Would it come in the form of a little box, that when opened, would shine in a million different colors as the jewels do when Snow White's seven dwarves are whistling while they work? Or would it be an instrument that could play beautiful songs all by itself, mesmerizing the listener? What would your treasure be? I imagine the fast beat of my heart and the delight I would feel upon realizing that I had found something so special and rare.

I had to stop and think about my faith being a treasure that I found in a field, or the finest pearl that I had ever seen. I certainly do not wake up every morning and remember that one day long ago, I found the treasure of a savior named Jesus. It seems I have let the radiant beauty of my gift become lackluster in my eyes. How wrong I have been! The gift of the Holy Spirit is far more musical, glimmering, and powerful than any treasure that could ever be found. There is more magic and delight, more mystery and beauty, than anything that I could have ever imagined. I have often desired to become wonder-filled, as when I was a child, at the sight of something new or forgotten. How silly of me to not realize that the power that demanded the most wonder and awe is a life that has already taken hold of me and guides me through my days. Being a child of God allows us to stare at His glory in amazement.

Perhaps the reason this is so striking to me is the fact that I am preparing to graduate and looking for a job. Come May, more will be expected of me. I will begin to pay my own bills, earn my own "allowance", and I will not live as close to home anymore. It is tempting to think that because I am advancing into the next stage of adulthood, I must become all of the serious things that I think an adult is supposed to be. How wrong I have been! My journey into the next part of my life is not to become stale and uninviting. Because the Lord does not wish us to settle, because His gift is and always will be a treasure, He will not take me to the next step of life and replace shiny rocks with dull and heavy stones. In my new responsibilities will the Lord give me delight. With this perspective, the future looks a lot brighter than it did before.

After discovering the treasure, there is another part to the parable. "And then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field" Matthew 13:44. Ah, the convicting part. So you've been running on this field, and you have found this majestic thing... now what? Will you leave it there, thinking that you have enough other things that keep you mostly satisfied? Or will you go and surrender everything you have in order to fully afford your treasure? This concept of surrendering is powerful here. The Holy Spirit is a treasure every single day, but it is in true surrender that we are reminded of his majesty.