Treasure Hunting

From elementary school days on, I remember hearing stories about finding lost or buried treasures.  There were cartoons to see and books to read, and even parties where you followed the clues on the map to search for the hidden treasure.  A school assignment instructed the boys to draw, label, and write clues for a treasure map.

Forrest Fenn spent his teenage summers exploring and scouring Yellowstone with his brother and friends.  Now a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Fenn has taken searching for hidden treasure to a new level.  A successful gallery owner, Fenn is well acquainted with beautiful art and jewelry.  After being diagnosed with cancer and given just a few years to live (20 years ago), the octogenarian began toying with the idea of filling a chest, hiding it, and giving obscure clues of its location.  Fenn survived the cancer, found a chest and spent ten years filling it with hundreds of rare gold coins; gold nuggets; antique jewelry with, jade, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones; gold dust; prehistoric mirrors of hammered gold; along with other valuables, and then hid the treasure chest.  He is careful to say that it is not necessarily buried.  Then four years ago, Forrest Fenn self-published his memoir, “The Thrill of the Chase”, and included a poem with vague clues about the location of the more than 40 pound treasure chest, valued at more than a million dollars. When interviewed by reporter Jeri Clausing, Forrest Fenn said his goal was to create a bounty that was “valuable enough to entice searchers and desirable enough visibly to strike awe.’”  He also added that it was “mainly to get people, particularly children, away from their texting devices and looking for adventure outdoors.”  Someday, one or maybe a small group of people will find and share the treasure.

But for the ultimate treasure, God desires us to seek and find Him.  Unlike buried or hidden treasures that are found by one or a few, God’s treasure is offered to all to find.  There are clues written in the Bible.  We get a glimpse by watching and seeing where He is working and moving and joining Him in the process.  God also reveals Himself when we pray, worship, fellowship, minister, trust, and live in obedience.  God’s treasure hunting rewards are an every day celebration for all who seek Him and not just a onetime find.  And God promises that when you seek him you will find him when you seek him with all your heart.  That’s a treasure worth searching for every day.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—

indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21