Treasure Hunter

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There is a treasure hidden in the Rocky Mountains. I go backpacking every year in the mountains of Colorado; mostly for the spiritual renewal but I’m going to start keeping my eyes more open for treasure now.

According to the story, four years ago, a man named Forrest Fenn, a Santa Fe bazllionaire, hid a treasure chest full of booty including priceless ancient artifacts, gold nuggets and precious jewels estimated at $3 million. The treasure is still waiting to be found, but is now rumored to be worth as much as $5 million.

Because Forrest Fenn is such an incredible character (think Will Rogers with some added Indiana Jones), I’ve started looking forward to his yearly updates of new clues about the treasure. Fenn has admitted that the treasure is hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe, higher than 5,000 feet above sea level; and it’s
not in Nevada, Idaho, Utah or Canada.

He has even written a book titled, Too Far to Walk, which includes a pullout map. “The map shows the area in which the treasure is hidden,” says Fenn with a mischievous grin, “But there’s no X on it.” There might not be an X marking the treasure’s location, but the two-page map, made especially for Fenn’s book, includes a 24-line poem with clues to the treasure’s location. Finn has said, “The
treasure is not easy to find, but it certainly isn’t impossible. All someone has to do is solve the clues in the poem and the chest can be theirs.”

“Included on the chest is my autobiography,” he said. “If someone finds the treasure far into the future, I want them to know who did such an outrageous thing. So I pulled a couple of white hairs from my head and put them in the jar that contains
my autobiography.”

And what does Fenn have to say about all the publicity and commotion his hidden treasure story has generated? He replied, “I’ve never said what I thought the treasure is worth because I don’t know, but writers keep upping its worth. When the value gets to $10 million I’m going back to get it.”

Since we have no Rocky Mountains in Lincoln, Illinois, if I ever hope to come across the treasure, I’m going to have to head west. In other words, one has to go where the treasure is.

 

Jesus spoke of treasure. He once compared the Kingdom of God to a 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” (Matthew 13:44).

He also added, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46).

Now, most scholars believe the man in the parable is representative of mankind (all of us) who should be willing to give up everything we have in order to get the treasure of God’s kingdom. A “you’ve-got-to-go-for-the-whole-deal” kind of behavior. But what happens to the parable if the man is Jesus? What happens if He is the one
making the discovery of a lifetime? If that is true, then what is the treasure? (Or should I ask “who?”) Maybe we become the treasure. He gives up everything (even his own life) to take hold of you. Suddenly, we become the treasure he is so excited about; a treasure of great value.

Looking at this parable this way, two things should happen: First, we should feel pretty good about ourselves here—come on, we’re treasure! Second, we should marvel more at Jesus who was willing give up everything just to get us.

Do you get what I’m hinting at? In the kingdom of God, you and I are the treasure. Oh sure, God is our treasure. Heaven is our treasured reward. Jesus and his saving grace is our heart’s deepest treasure. Those all preach as well, but if I am the treasure that Jesus wants more than life itself, then that changes how I see myself today.

With that in mind, maybe we could discover a little more joy, a little more fulfillment, a little more happiness in knowing that in Jesus’ eyes, you are his treasured possession.
[Ron Otto, Preaching Minister at Lincoln Christian Church]

 

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