Treasure hunters are relentless in their pursuit of lost treasure. God is relentless in His pursuit of us.
On a recent trip to Florida, my family visited a maritime museum. It was filled with really cool artifacts that had ties to the ocean, but by far the most interesting part was the curator. He was a veteran of Vietnam, a former dive shop owner and a treasure hunter.
There’s a shipwreck right off of the Florida coast called the San Miguel. It’s been there since it sank in a hurricane in 1715. It’s in very deep water with very low visibility. What’s a treasure hunter to do? They built a special boat, of course.
Treasure hunters are an interesting breed of people. They are relentless in their search. They study history and maps and then they search for clues in the ocean. Another amazing thing is that when they pull something up from the ocean floor that’s been there for over two hundred years, it looks more like a rock than treasure. I don’t think I could tell the difference. I could be holding a gold coin and think it’s a shell. But, they know.
Treasure hunters have an eye for shape and size and weight. Then they painstakingly clean all of the layers of debris that have covered it over the years. The process is not simple or quick, but when they are done, the treasure shines like new.
As I thought about the enthusiasm that the curator had when he shared his story and how he was incredibly excited about getting started on the actual excavation this summer, I was reminded God’s relentless pursuit of us.
He is truly the ultimate treasure hunter. He seeks us out when our hearts are all crusted over with years of sin and bad decisions and He slowly and gently strips it all away. He can see the beauty underneath and He knows what we can be with time, healing, love, and faith. When He works with us, we shine more brightly than any gold ever could.
I am also reminded that as Christians, we also have the opportunity to look for treasure in others. We have the opportunity to look past gruff exteriors, anger, hurt feelings, hopelessness, and apathy and see something different. We can share the love of Christ and we too, can watch those heavy heart layers slip away.
It takes time and perseverance. Years of disappointment and unbelief won’t disappear instantaneously. Luckily, patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, who is always willing to help us help others along their faith journey. We too, have the Bible to use for history and a map. God has equipped us well.
I like the idea of being a treasure hunter. What about you?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂