Treasure

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:21

Everyone enjoys a story about treasure. It is always exciting to see someone find the treasure they have been looking for. Indiana Jones always managed to find the treasure against impossible odds. These stories drew millions to the movie screens. All of us have treasures in our lives. We all have a desire to find the ultimate treasure that will change our lives and finally bring the fulfillment of our dreams. It is true that everyone has a treasure. So the question becomes: What is your treasure?
    Suppose you have a treasure chest in your living room. It is big, it is old. Originally, it came with keys to unlock the many locks. There are compartments within it that hold untold wealth. There is an instruction manual that came with the treasure chest, but when you read it, it just didn't make sense. You gave up on trying to open it, and somewhere along the line, the keys were lost. Now the chest sits in the middle of your living room and has become another piece of your furniture. You walk around it, dust it occasionally, but otherwise ignore it. It doesn't hold the appeal it once did. It was just too difficult to open. Now it is another familiar thing in your life, but its riches are still locked within.
    Unfortunately, the story above describes the lives of many Christians. We have been given the treasure of the kingdom of God. This kingdom comes with keys and an instruction manual called the Bible. Some of us read the manual and attempted to use the keys, but when it seemed too difficult, we gave up. Others of us never even understood that there was a great treasure, so we never tried to attain it. The treasure of the kingdom has never left our lives, but it has little impact, because it is unopened, it's glorious blessings not realized. So we have turned to other treasures. These are ones offered by the world and capture our attention easily. the allure is great and rather than spend the time required to open the kingdom of God and its treasures, we instead devote ourselves and our attention to the others.
    So I ask: Where is your treasure? Are you still pursuing the kingdom of God? Are you still reading the instruction manual? Are you still carrying the keys and trying them in the locks? I assure you that the kingdom of God is still with you and within you. As you persevere and continue to pursue it, you will open the vast treasure within it that far outweighs anything the world has to offer. Make sure your heart is with God. Make sure that he is the object of your affections. It is easy to find out where your treasure is, just follow your heart.