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.
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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] |
