IN HIM ARE ALL THE RICHEST TREASURES
Over forty years ago, against my
parents' wishes, who wanted me to become an Engineer, I wanted to become a
missionary immediately after graduation. Who wants to be a Missionary these
days? That decision shocked my parents and led me to join Youth With A Mission.
During one of the worship sessions, I heard these verses of a song, "Lord
You Are More Precious Than Silver." That song changed the course of my
life. I felt as though I had found the richest treasure.
Here is some background information on that song.
Lynn DeShazo, who had just graduated from Auburn University, felt that the Lord
wanted her to work on praise and worship music, as well as learn about
spiritual disciplines. One of those spiritual disciplines was fasting. Working
at McDonalds when you are fasting is a challenge in and of itself, but when you
are salting crispy Golden French fries, it is nearly impossible!
As the day went on, the temptation grew stronger and
stronger. She began to meditate on those fries until she looked around to see
if anyone was watching, and then grabbed two fries and gulped them down. Lynn
felt so guilty all the way home. She asked for forgiveness because she had not
been strong enough to resist temptation. God put two verses of Scripture on her
mind.
Colossians 2:3, "In whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Proverbs 8:11, "For wisdom is
more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."
Linking those two verses and forgetting all about the Golden French fries, she
began to worship the Lord. And, soon, this song was born."[1]
What do you treasure in life?
If only you knew Jesus Christ, in whom "Are
All The Richest Treasures," you too wouldn't want to settle for
anything else. In our 'In Him' series today, we will explore what those richest
treasures are and how they impact our daily Christian life. Colossians
1:24-2:1-5
I.
The Apostle Paul's Mission To the Church
When we think of the Apostle Paul, we see him as an evangelist,
missionary, and great defender of the Gospel. But did you ever see him as a
pastor? God changed a persecutor of the Church and a highly learned and Jealous
Pharisee, Paul, into a servant of the Church. God commissioned him to the
believers, the whole council of God's word. It was a pastoral call.
Paul, a Pharisee who had become a pastor, was
concerned about the believers in the churches that he planted during his missionary
journeys. The Letter to the Colossians is one of the thirteen pastoral letters
that Paul wrote to encourage believers. Paul's Mission to the Church was to
proclaim the Gospel, admonish and teach believers with all Wisdom so that
everyone would fully mature in Christ. As a caring pastor, Paul explained God's
mystery to the Colossian believers, which had been kept hidden for ages. What
is that mystery, and how does it impact us?
II.
The Mystery Is Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory
The word Mystery in English means "something
that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain." In our
contemporary culture, we often associate mystery with mystery novels and other
things that are mysterious. For Paul, the word "mystery" was a
revelatory term.
It was about God's redemptive plan, which was once
hidden from all people. Writing to Ephesians, Paul explains the mystery of God
this way. Through the Gospel, the Gentiles become heirs and form one body,
sharing together in the promise in Christ. (Eph 3:6.).
In Col 1:26-27, Paul explains, "This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long
time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know
this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background,
regardless of their religious standing.
The mystery, in a nutshell, is this:
Christ is in you, so therefore, you can look forward to sharing in God's
glory." The Message. That is for our future, but what do we have in Christ
now?
III.
In Him Are All The Richest Treasures
It is a blessing to know that one day, in Christ, we
will share God's glory and live eternally with Him in heaven, but how about
here and now? What provisions has God left us with to navigate the challenges
while we still live in God's beautiful but broken World?
Let's ask Pastor Paul what he has to say about that.
"I want you
to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at
Laodicea and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they
may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the
full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures
of Wisdom and knowledge."
Colossians 2:1-3.
While studying for this message, God freshly reminded
me of my primary calling as a pastor. Like Paul, my goal is to encourage you
all in Hope Church, as well as those I don't meet personally. I do my best to
teach, preach, inspire, and pray for you all so that you might grow in your
love for God with a fuller understanding of the knowledge of Christ, in whom
are hidden all the treasures of Wisdom and knowledge." Let's unpack these
two richest treasures in Christ.
1.
The Richest Treasure of Knowing Christ.
The Greek word "gnosis" is translated in English
as "knowledge." This knowledge is not intellectual, as it comes from
reading and observation, but rather experiential. What Paul is aiming for here
is that we may know Christ intellectually by reading or hearing about Him, but
do we know Him experientially? Did we have an encounter with Jesus in our lives
similar to the one the Apostle Paul had on the Road to Damascus, which changed
his entire life?
A good education may help us
secure a well-paying job and live a comfortable life, but knowing Christ is the
only way to eternal life. That is the richest treasure we should pursue.
Experientially knowing Jesus Christ transforms us and helps us discover our
true purpose in life.
The apostle Paul, who has high credentials in
learning and religious living, has this to say about knowing Christ.
Philippians 3:7-10, "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for
the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have
lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,..I
want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and
participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
The basis of this richest treasure of knowing
Christ begins with believing in Christ and accepting Him as our Lord and
Savior. It will continue to increase as we spend more time getting to know
Christ through personal reading of God's Word, Worship, Prayer, and witnessing.
This knowledge of Christ will lead us to discover another richest treasure,
which is Wisdom.
2. The Richest Treasure of Wisdom In Christ.
The Greek word Sophia
is translated into English as "Wisdom," which refers to the
knowledge of how to regulate one's relationship with God. When one is wise unto
God, he is prudent with others and knows how to regulate his own life and
circumstances. These Richest treasures of Knowledge and Wisdom are hidden in
Christ
On this Father's Day, let's listen to a wise father's advice to his son. My son, if you accept my words…turning your ear to Wisdom, and applying your heart to 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. For the Lord gives Wisdom." Pro 2:1-12.
In Pro 8:10-11 we read, "Choose my instruction instead
of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom, is more precious than
rubies and nothing you desire can compare with you." What are you running
after? The only richest treasures in this World worth pursuing are Wisdom and
knowledge in Christ. God gives them to those who believe in his Son, Jesus
Christ.
