Treasure Chest Kid.

Do you remember when you were a child when you and your friend would make these elaborate maps, maps that would lead you on this crazy adventure? Now I'm not talking about a lame map that is on the back of some notebook piece of paper, but I'm talking about an awesome, elaborate map that has a legend, that has critical points in your journey that you must prepare for. You might call those points on your map, as reference points, but needless to say they were crucial for you to know, if you were heading in the right direction.

You find yourself scouring around the backyard looking for something, right? Looking maybe for the next clue, maybe for the next reference point. Now just like any young adventurer you might not be able to find your reference point at first. Some people might call that: discouragement. Why do we get discouraged? I'll tell you why, because to often you look and look (like for a lost toy) and you just get so frustrated because you know that you've looked in the same place like 3,000 times and you just can't find it. It's really disheartening. But you see past that, because all you want is that treasure and luckily for you have that map and nothing will stop you from getting that treasure.

So as you continue searching and 'adventuring' you come across your reference points. You come across the things that you have been looking for and there is such a relief and a sense of momentary satisfaction, but you know deep inside that the adventurer isn't over. Rather the adventure continues to grow on you. You might tell yourself, "I can do this! That first part was a little bit discouraging, disheartening, but you know, I can do this. I've got this map."

Do you ever realize that you have already found the treasure before ever started to look for it? I'm not trying to be a philosopher here, but hear me out. Before you start searching for this 'hidden treasure' you already know that it is going to be a treasure. Now we are so worldly as to believe and say, "sometimes the 'treasure' that we find isn't that great after all." Some people call that: high expectations. But, if you realize what we are calling this, treasure. By definition, treasure is something that has great value. Not something that is worthless and pathetic by nature. This is treasure! I mean if someone came up to you and asked you, "hey I've got some treasure, you want some?" I think if you realized what treasure is, you would say, "heck yes!"

We have been invited into an adventurer. An adventurer that can make you doubt a lot of things in your life. An adventurer that can make you frustrated and confused. An adventurer that can be exciting. An adventurer that calls that we take radical risk. Risk that looks improbable. So why even embark on such a adventurer? Because God has already revealed to us what the treasure is: an intimate relationship with the God of this universe through His son Jesus Christ. Do you realize what I just said. The God that made all of this, everything that you could possibly see, wants an active relationship with you. You who are so finite. You who are but a vapor in this life. He wants you.

If you really realize what that means, wouldn't you do anything for that treasure? Wouldn't you go to any extreme just be part of that? Wouldn't you do anything for that? If you truly did realize it, wouldn't you do something radical? If you did truly realize what that means, could you ever be luke-warm in your life? You would not have to weigh out, "Should I choose this over God or should I choose God". Because He is of infinite worth that cannot be compared. That's why He says "I will vomit you from my mouth".

The point of all this is to say: "the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" Matthew 13.44

Go and sell all that you have and enjoy Him.