Hidden Treasure
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the gospel, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was among them, but they
rejected the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow.
“Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him,” we read; “but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should
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be put out of the synagogue.”
John 12:42
. They were convinced; they
believed Jesus to be the Son of God; but it was not in harmony with
their ambitious desires to confess Him. They had not the faith that
would have secured for them the heavenly treasure. They were seeking
worldly treasure.
And today men are eagerly seeking for earthly treasure. Their
minds are filled with selfish, ambitious thoughts. For the sake of gain-
ing worldly riches, honor, or power, they place the maxims, traditions,
and requirements of men above the requirements of God. From them
the treasures of His word are hidden.
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for
they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned,”
1 Corinthians 2:14
.
“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the
God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.”
2 Corinthians 4:3, 4
.
Value of the Treasure
The Saviour saw that men were absorbed in getting gain, and were
losing sight of eternal realities. He undertook to correct this evil.
He sought to break the infatuating spell that was paralyzing the soul.
Lifting up His voice He cried, “What is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man
give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16:26
. He presents before
fallen humanity the nobler world they have lost sight of, that they
may behold eternal realities. He takes them to the threshold of the
Infinite, flushed with the indescribable glory of God, and shows them
the treasure there.
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The value of this treasure is above gold or silver. The riches of
earth’s mines cannot compare with it.