And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. (Isaiah 45:3)
A brand-new Titleist ProV1 golf ball is like a “treasure” to me. I never risk putting one into play. It is too valuable. This lost-ball phobia is quite real for me. I can’t seem to make a good swing if I fear losing the treasure of a five-dollar golf ball.
I broke my rule last week playing in the Payne Stewart Cup in Northern Ireland. Since the ball was a gift, I decided to hit the shiny new ball off the opening tee. Sure enough, I snap hooked my drive into the left weeds and off we went. Fortunately, my partner Alexander is an amazing ball hawk. He found my ProV- my treasure- and off we went. But my pull hook was still there on the 3rd hole and this time not even Alex could help me. The ball was lost forever. I smiled aloud and said, “That must be a happy golf ball, lost in the weeds of Royal Portrush.”
Thirty minutes later one of our players hit a ball two fairways to the right and off he went looking for his ball, near the spot where my treasure had been lost and wouldn’t you know it- my lost ball was now found. I told my friend, “Jesus left the 99 golf balls behind to go looking for the one lost nugget. Surely the angels in heaven rejoice over finding one lost ball.”
The Bible has much to say about Treasures. By definition, a treasure is ‘hidden’. It is valuable because it is rare. The ancient and wise Job tells us all about this hidden treasure in Job 28. He concludes that it is not the rare jewels found deep in the earth but is something unseen- called “True Wisdom”.
And where does the search for this wisdom begin?
“But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living….
Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’” (Job 28:12-13, 27-28).
‘The fear of the Lord’ is a phrase that offends some people and confuses many. But remember, Job would agree that the fear of the Lord is not the end of the story! But it is the beginning. (Proverbs 1:7).
The love of Jesus Christ is the end of the story, but the beginning is a healthy respect, awe, and ‘fear’ of this Almighty Creator.
Indeed, the end of the story is not our search for God’s treasure, but the search of the Almighty for His special treasure. And what is God’s special treasure?
Moses starts the conversation in Deuteronomy 26:18, “The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure.” Thousands of years later, Malachi echoes Moses, “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure.” (Malachi 3:17).
And then Peter puts in all in context for us, “You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, His very own possession.” (I Peter 2:9).
So, God Himself has found His special treasure. It is YOU. I hope you can believe that today.
Prayer: Thank you for the special treasure of Jesus Christ’s love. And thank you, God, for declaring us to be your special treasure.