Buried treasure!  The thought stirs my imagination!  Pirates…gold doubloons…Long John Silver and Treasure Island!   Did you ever dig a hole in the backyard when you were  a child?   I did.  Looking for buried treasure!  Hoping not to dig too deep as my father said  I’d open a chasm all the way to China. China?   How would I get home?!

Once in a while, you read of someone out walking their dog, which digs up what looks like a bone, only to unearth a tin can filled with old gold coins now worth a prospector’s fortune.  Not me!  Kept digging in our backyard, and only found worms, pebbles, smooshed cigarette butts, and someone’s old broken tooth!

My buried treasure never was found.  Until today.  Yes… buried treasure!   Treasure?  Where?  The prophet Isaiah:  ‘The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high…he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure'(33: 5-6 ESV).  Treasure!  For all who worship and love the Lord.  Treasure indeed!  Nothing buried either.

Why not let everyone else know where this treasure can be found?  Tell others about the Lord they can love and serve.  Unfortunately, that rarely happens anymore.  We clam up, keeping to ourselves what needs sharing.  As the Apostle Paul said, ‘…how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?'(Romans 10: 14).  How?

Good question.   I thank the Lord that someone bothered to do a radio program telling me about Jesus.   What about you?  Some Sunday school teacher?  A Bible given to you?  A neighbor who took the risk?  Someone unselfish,  sharing treasure.  Can we do less?  We can and do.  To our shame.  The treasure is for all who believe.  That’s clearly the message of the Bible, our treasure map.   John 3:16:  ‘…that whoever believes in him(Jesus)…’  Did you notice who this applies to?  Yes, ‘…whoever’.  As in you and me!

Last night I wrote another letter to the little 9 year old girl who we help get an education, decent clothing and food, and discover the love of Jesus.   She lives in one of the poorest countries in the world.  A country dominated by a religion that hates Jesus and His followers.  But courageous Christians in her country share treasure, and our little girl now has some treasure too!  Poor as poor can be in this world’s goods, yet rich in what matters, what will last for all eternity.   We can love Jesus…and share Him with others as well.  Does it get any better?

Actually, it does.  For the treasure of worshipping the Lord is like finding a vein of gold that has no end.  Even buccaneering pirates-of-old couldn’t imagine a treasure trove like this!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of sharing you with others.  In Jesus’ precious name, we pray.  Amen.