Thursday, November 19, 2015

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - The Treasure of Wisdom

What is it about the sparkle of the gems and coins in a treasure box that excites our soul? When I was a little girl, my grandma took us to Disneyland quite often.  One of my favorite rides was the Pirates of the Caribbean.  We'd float through the dark caverns looking at the scenes of a pirates life. One of my favorite scenes was the "treasure scene," a room filled with gold coins, silver candelabras and goblets, and jewelry and gems of every kind imaginable.  Something about that room always brought a jolt of excitement. Oh how I wish I could have jumped in the middle of that mound of treasure. I wished I could bury myself in all that sparkle.

When I think about my journey through the Bible, it looks a lot like the ride I loved so much at Disneyland.  The first half of the book are stories of the journey of mankind searching for something.  Something that will make him of value. The book of Proverbs is much like that room full of hidden treasures. It is a book on wisdom and wisdom can only be found. Proverbs 3:13-18 says, "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; and  nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."

God's Word is like a treasure map, full of value and priceless sacrifice that He so wants us to discover.  We can only do that if we roll up our sleeves and begin digging.  In the process, we discover who He is and what the treasures He has given us that the world cannot give.  His wisdom is one of those treasures. The more knowledge and understanding you gain from reading His map, the more you discover that wisdom is not something, it's someone.  That someone is His son Jesus.  The priceless treasure that He so freely gave. Sin, like the dirt, has buried this treasure and so many have no idea that it is even out there for them to find.  But for those who do find it, find the treasure of eternal life, like a pirate who finds the "fountain of youth".  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6 & 7 "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

The treasure that mankind is so desperate to find is not wealth and power, but it is wisdom and that wisdom comes through the salvation of Jesus Christ.  Jesus said he is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. (John 14:3) That sounds like the description of wisdom to me. 

As I close, I want to tell you this, if you want to find great treasure, get "the treasure map" (the Bible) and begin to dig in to it and discover this priceless treasure that awaits you.  Deuteronomy 4:29 says "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." There is no treasure in this world that will excite your soul more than the light of Jesus that shines out of you when you find him.