FINDING TREASURES

  A number of years ago, there was a geologist by the name of Dr. Williamson who was doing some work in the country of Tanzania.  One day, he found himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked road.  Suddenly his four wheel drive vehicle sank up to it axles in the mud and got stuck. Pulling out his shovel, he began diggging out of a mud hole. As he dug, his shovel uncovered something strange.  It was pink-like stone of some sort.  Being a geologist and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up and wiped away the mud.  The more mud he removed, the more excited he became, and could hardly believe what he saw.  When the stone was finally clean, Dr. Williamson was beside himself with joy.  He had discovered a diamond.  Now, not just any diamond.  But, he had found what became known as the famous pink diamond of Tanzania.  That stone today sits in the royal scepter of Great Britain, and Dr. Williamson is famous around the world for his find. 

  Jesus talked about finding treasures in Matthew the 13th chapter verses 44 and 45.  Hear these words, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like tresure 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.”  

  Now, Jesus is comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to the priceless treasure found. The Kingdom of Heaven is the rule and reign of God in the hearts and minds of people.  Both of these parables teach us about the incomparable value of the Lord’s Kingdom, the Church.  Jesus has given us the right to become children of God.  How much is that worth to you?  He has offered us salvation through what He did on the Cross.  Pile up everything in this world on one side and put God’s presence- salvation (forgiveness of sins) on the other side and it still comes out lopsided.  The salvation of our soul is worth so much more.  Christ and His Kingdom are treasures beyond comparison.

  Remember the treasure…Each day can be a treasure hunt. When ever we read the Bible, we search for gold nuggets of truth left there to bless us and challenge us.  When we pray, we can expect treasures of comfort and power and guidance.  When we worship, we can expect the treasures of His love found in His presence.  There is joy in finding Jesus. There is no regret in leaving all to find and follow Christ. WE ARE RICH. Our wealth is in Christ. It is spiritual wealth not material, eternal wealth not temporary.  The Kingdom of God is within the reach of everyone. 

        Sing with new meaning: 
“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold.
I’d rather be His than have riches untold.
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I’d rather be led by His nailed scared hand.
Than to be a King of a vast domain or be held in sins dread sway. 
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”

 

OVERCOMING DIFFERENCES

  I am a Civil War buff.  The differences and divisions concerning the North and the South were enormous. Opinions were strong and violently expressed from both sides. Churches were included in this turmoil.  The fierce division makes this story most remarkable.   Michael Mason, Senior Minister at Cornerstone Christian Church in Jackson, Michigan shared this Civil War story in the August 14, 2013 newsletter, “The Christian Caller.”

  “A little Baptist Church sat on top of a hill outside of Hickory Flat, Mississippi. The service was just beginning when there came a loud knock on the door of the church.  Every one grew very quiet. Union patrols had been spotted in the area. Finally a deacon said, “We had better see who is at the door and find out what they want.”  The door was opened and there stood a group of Union soldiers. The Union Officer said, “Please don’t be afraid. We are not here to harm you.  We would just like to come and worship the Lord with you. May we?”  “We will have to talk it over,” replied one of the older men.  “Please wait a moment.”  The door closed. 
No one knew what to do.  This was very unusual. Finally, a deacon said to a lady dressed in black, “Betty, you’ve lost two of your loved ones in the war. You have suffered more than anyone else.  What do you think we should do?  Should we invite these soldiers in to worship with us?”  Betty began to weep.  Finally she said, “Brothers and sisters, if we cannot worship with our enemies, then we can’t truly worship.”  
The door opened.  The soldiers were invited inside and were asked to be seated.  The service resumed.  Songs were sung. Scriptures were read. Prayers were offered. A sermon was preached. One of the soldiers from the Union army even sang a solo. 
When the service was concluded, the soldiers thanked everybody for their graciousness.  They shook hands and all wished one another God’s blessings.”

  As I read the incident, I thought about one of our great slogans: “In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty and in all things, love.”   Oh, if we could just live up to that saying.  There will always be differences in ideas. But never should social agendas or political events or man’s opinions tarnish the reputation of God’s Church.  The Church is the dispenser of God’s truth as revealed in the Bible.  That Word must be told to everyone, everywhere.  The marching orders of the Church are to go into all the world and make all people followers of Jesus.  Obedient believers in Jesus are of one family, united under the one Father of us all.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross. 

 All are welcome to become a part of the family of God. 

LAST THREE WISHES

  Alexander was a great king.  On his way home from conquering many countries, he became ill.  At that moment, his captured territories, powerful army, sharp swords and wealth all had no meaning to him. He realized that he was dying and would not return to his homeland.  He told his officers: “I will soon leave this world.  I have three final wishes.  You need to carry out what I tell you.”  His generals, in tears, agreed.

  “My first desire is that my physicians alone must carry my coffin.
  My second desire is that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard is to be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.”
  My third desire is that both of my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.”

  Alexander the Great was assured that his three wishes would be carried out.  However, the people gathered around him asked to know why he had made such strange wishes.  Alexander said, “I want the world to know the three lessons I have learned.”

  “First, I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor on this earth can stop death. Death is inevitable.  Let not people take life for granted. 
  Secondly, I wish my wealth to be scattered on the path to the graveyard so the people will know that not a fraction of gold will come with me.  I spent all my life getting, earning riches, but cannot take anything with me.  Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
  Thirdly, people will see my hands dangling out of the coffin and know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.” 

  With these words, the king closed his eyes.  Soon, death conquered him and he breathed his last.  But what a lesson he has left for us.    Author Unknown

  Ecclesiastes 5:15 “NAKED A MAN COMES FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB, AND AS HE COMES, SO HE DEPARTS.  HE TAKES NOTHING FROM HIS LABOR THAT HE CAN CARRY IN HIS HAND.”

 This is the same truth that Jesus taught.     “What good is it  for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?   Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”    Mark 8:36-37

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES”

  The International Sunday School lesson for October 6th was “The Promise Of A Future.”   This led me to teach on the Covenants of God. The Scripture states in Genesis 15:18, “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…”  A covenant is a promise, a pledge, a commitment.  This promise has unbelievable dimensions–that Abram would have descendants and that they would be more than the stars he could see and count.  The word “covenant” is used to describe God’s promise to Abram.  The highlight of this incident is seen in verse 6 of this 15th chapter of Genesis which states, “Abram believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness.”  Here it speaks of Abram’s trust that God will fulfill what He has said.  How amazing is that?  So much so, that Paul writes in Galatians 3:6-9 “Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.  The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham:  “All nations will be blessed through you.”  So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”  He is holding out that promise to us (all humanity).  God counts a person in right relationship with Him through their faith in Him.

  God has made several covenants through the ages such as: Covenant with Noah, Covenant with Moses and Covenant with David.  However, all of them were simply leading up to the better covenant which is through Jesus.  Hebrews 8:6 “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.”   The Old Testament in the book of Jeremiah speaks of this to come, “The time is coming when I will mke a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.”  Jeremiah 31:31 & 33  The Old Covenant was external while the New Covenant is internal.  The New Covenant is free from externalism, formalism, ritualism, and traditionalism. The Hebrew writer declared, “Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He set aside the first to establish the second,. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”    Hebrews 10:9-10 

  I believe that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. ended Judaism. (Luke 19:43-44)  When the city of Jerusalem fall to the Roman Army, the temple was burned, sacrifices stopped and the Levitical priesthood came to an end.

  Our personal covenant with the Lord is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Galatians 3:29 “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

  I hope that you can sing with greater meaning one of our favorite hymns:          “Standing On The Promises.”
“Standing on the promises of Christ my King,  Through eternal ages let His praises ring,  Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.”     STAND ON GOD’S WORD AND BE SECURE.