There is a
story in God’s book, a real-life kind of story, in which some outcasts of a
city came across a huge amount of treasure.
They found silver and gold. There were sets of clothing more than anyone could
wear in a lifetime. There was delicious food just waiting for them to enjoy.
At first they
were so overwhelmed with their surprising discovery that they began to hide the
treasures so that no one could take them away. However, they soon fell under
conviction that what they were doing was wrong. Even though the city of people
had treated them as outcasts, they knew that there was enough treasure for
everyone, and settled in their hearts that the only right thing to do was to go
tell everyone in the city about it. In their case, they were well-received.
When people become
children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, they discover that the
Worldlings around them do not appreciate the change in their lives. They
discover that talking about Jesus is not politically correct, and that speaking
of Jesus as our Creator, and the only Savior of the world, results in the outcast-treatment
that Jesus their Lord went through himself.
However, even
though they are treated as outcasts in various social settings, sometimes to
the extent of being disowned by families, kicked out of groups, or even
threatened, attacked, and persecuted by their communities, they know they have
found the most amazing treasure in the whole wide world. The more they get to
know this treasure, the more they feel wonder that such a thing is possible.
At first,
there is a temptation to keep this treasure to themselves. After all, no one
seems to want what they have, since so many associate the treasure with what is
considered a sickness or deficiency of the soul.
It doesn’t
take long, though, until the very nature of the treasure itself overwhelms Jesus’
brothers with the consciousness that it is wrong not to share it. They know the
world cannot see what they have. They have heard so many stories of the world
speaking of their Savior as though he were their greatest enemy, when he really
is their greatest hope.
The more these
people get to know the Father through his Son, the more the richness of the
treasure compels them to accept that they cannot keep it to themselves. Even
though they must break societal rules about rocking boats and stepping into comfort
zones, they are sure that, if people could just hear what it is they mean by Jesus
as their treasure, they would want to share it with them in the same joy as Jesus’
friends have already experienced.
The message
of the treasure is this: whatever is wrong with the world, Jesus the Son of God
has the thing that fixes it. Whatever the world needs is found in the Son of
God.
To a world
languishing in the hopeless belief in evolution, Jesus’ brothers have wonderful
news of Jesus as the Creator of heaven and earth, the one who made man from the
dust of the earth, creating them as male and female in his own image and
likeness.
To a world
confused over identity, and purpose, and meaning, Jesus’ family has wonderful
news about who we are as his creation, who we are as male and female, who we
are in distinction from animals, what it means to be the only creature made in
the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, and what it means to find ourselves by
returning to our Creator.
To a world
concerned about the future, Jesus’ friends have wonderful news regarding the
certainty of things to come. In the same way as the lepers found treasure after
a terrible scare from a marauding army, Jesus’ brothers know that there is a
huge treasure waiting for the people of God after some terrifying trouble
travels all around the earth.
They know that the troubles that come only lead the way to the return of their
Savior, and the glorious home he is preparing for all those who trust in him.
As Jesus’
brothers hear the world cry and complain about sickness, and financial woes,
and getting their own way, and fighting over issues, and values, and
worldviews; and they hear the world treasure their selfishness, and their
pride, and their cruelty against other human beings, the glory of their
treasure shines out all the more brightly, and the need to shine the good news
all the more glaring.
And then
there is what Jesus’ friends know about death. Here they find such a
bittersweet quality to their treasure that they cannot bear to keep silent
about what they know. They know that death comes knocking. They know that
everyone dies. They know that “it is
appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”
and so they want everyone to know the provision of this treasure that saves
from God’s judgment against our sin.
However, they
also know that, “Christ, having been
offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal
with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him,”
and they want everyone to know that they can change what happens to them when Jesus
returns. Instead of judgment, they can have the final installment of salvation.
Instead of being those who mourn when Jesus returns,
who call on the mountains and the rocks, “Fall
on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from
the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can
stand?”
they want people to know the joy of being Jesus’ brothers now,
and to “know that when he appears we
shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
When Jesus’
friends know that eternal life is to know God who created us,
and wanted us as his adopted children,
and that people will perish in their sins
if they never reach out to Jesus and receive him as their Creator,
their Savior,
and their Lord,
the very nature of the treasure makes them want everyone to know they can have
life instead of death,
and joy instead of sorrow.
Jesus came
into the darkness of our sinful planet and revealed himself as the Light of the
world.
The nature of light is to shine, and so God “shone
in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus then
told his followers, “You are the light of
the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” This
means that Jesus’ disciples extend his light for all to see in a way that is
similar to a branch extending the life of the vine in order to bear much fruit. They
do not hide this light from the world, for that is utterly contrary to what the
light has already done to them.
Instead, they abide by Jesus’ own words, “let
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
With this new
identity as light, bearing the treasure of knowing and loving the Lord Jesus Christ,
the family of God must tell the world that they have found this treasure,
hoping to find a few people who will respond with the same joy as they
themselves have experienced. It really doesn’t matter whether the world
continues to treat them as outcasts, or welcomes the Savior with great joy. The
nature of the treasure is so full of good news that it must be told.
The message
given to terrified shepherds a long time ago continues to be the message of
hope God and his children shine into the world:
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great
joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
You are one
of “all the people.” The Savior has
been born “unto you,” just as unto
the shepherds. Jesus is “Christ the Lord”
over every name, power, authority, religion, nation, government, and interest
group, you can imagine. You
can know, “joy that is inexpressible and
filled with glory,” by, “obtaining
the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Well, my time
with God made me rather “light”-hearted this morning. This is not unusual. For
anyone who is a brother to the Light of the world, shining his light for others
to see is our new identity in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus
said, “let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven.” I
pray that this is exactly what happens throughout the course of this whole day!
After all, there is most certainly treasure enough to share.
© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
