Treasure Hunt

In Tales of the Hasidim, Martin Burber recounts the story of Rabbi Eisik.  Rabbi Eisik was a pious man living in the Polish town of Cracow.  He had a dream telling him to go to Prague and there under a great bridge he would find a hidden treasure.  Three nights the same dream visited Rabbi Eisik as he slept.  Finally the third morning, the rabbi determined he would make the long trip to Prague.  

Upon arriving in the capital city, Rabbi Eisik found the bridge from his dream leading to the royal castle.  Night and day it was guarded by sentries, so there was no way for him to dig.  Eventually his prowling around the bridge attracted the attention of the Captain of the Guard who went down to inquire of the good rabbi.  Rabbi Eisik told the man of the recurring dream and the treasure he was to find under that very bridge.  The Captain burst into laughter.  "You haven't worn out all that shoe leather on account of a dream, have you?


"Why, I too had a dream," he began.  "In it I was told to go to Cracow and seek out a Rabbi Eisik.  There I would find a great treasure hidden in a niche in his hearth.  But I am a practical man and put no stock in dreams."  The rabbi bowed and thanked the man.  And hurried back to Cracow.  There in his hearth he found the treasure, and it ended his poverty.  


I love this story.  It seems each time I hear it and the more I think on it, the more it has to reveal.  Doesn't it seem as though Rabbi Eisik is awfully foolish?  He takes this long trek to Prague only to find a treasure that's already right under his nose.  But then I think, would he have found the treasure without talking to the Captain?  Wasn't the dream true?  Didn't he find the treasure under the bridge in Prague?  


All are compelling questions, but perhaps not as compelling as when I turn them on myself.  What treasures am I seeking that are already in my midst?  What about you?  Are you seeking hidden treasure?  


That's the crux of it.  We are all treasure hunters in some small way.  Maybe none of us are looking to dig up a chest full of gold(though that would be a welcome surprise), but the pursuit of career success may be how you spend your resources.  Perhaps your life would be a little better if your kids were just a little better behaved.  Or the perfect spouse, better friends, a great car, a house,  an Xbox, or a million other things would make life so much more livable, right?  


What does Jesus have to say about hunting treasures?  

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34

The Father has given us the Kingdom.  In fact, Jesus says in Luke 17:21 "... the Kingdom of God is within you."  And yet, I rarely walk around feeling the embodiment of God's kingdom within me.  I'm willing to bet that for a lot of us the Kingdom feels a lot further away than the beating of our own hearts.  Like Rabbi Eisik, we live in the midst of an incredible treasure but fail to access it.

Earlier today, I read a post entitled Stars, Planets and the Meaningless Life by astrophysicist Adam Frank over at NPR's 13.7 blog.  In it Mr. Frank discusses finding a moment of peace and perspective at a recent astronomy conference.  When presented with the vast scale of the galaxy and the fraction of it we are able to survey, his worldly cares melted away.  Adam Frank may not use these words but I believe that he had an encounter with eternity in that conference room.

The difference is we can call this cosmic encompassing eternity by name.  We call him Jesus Christ.  Colossians 1:17 talks about Christ in this way, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."  Later in the letter, Paul ties Jesus to those great treasures on which we are to set our hearts.

My purpose 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 2:2-3 

Throughout the Bible, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, peace, joy, hope, faith, and love are lauded as worthy pursuits.  These values are described as more precious than rubies of more value than choice gold.  And Paul makes it clear that these things are hidden in Christ.  The mystery is that as we seek out him, we grow in these qualities.  Then the troubles and treasures of this world "grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

Seeking first the kingdom means nothing more or less than seeking out Christ himself.  Meditating on his teaching, studying the Word, living and interacting in community with other believers will manifest the Kingdom in your own heart as He is given place there.  Then you will see, the map to hidden treasure isn't marked with an X, but with a cross.