Buried Treasure

I am using the leaf blower on the driveway every day.
I usually use the leaf blower when I come back from my walk.
The walnut tree has dropped all of its walnuts.
However, leaves and twigs are still there.

There has not been a really windy day yet this fall.
I always appreciate a good fall wind to move some of the leaves.
Until the wind picks up and the weather gets colder, the leaf blower will have to do.
I realize the futility of this particular job.

Once it is done, it needs to be repeated the next day.
One day’s leaf blowing does not alleviate the problem the other days of the week.
It is the walkway to my front door that needs attention.
I could not figure out why there was so much dirt and mulch there.

Day after day I blew away all the debris.
Day after day, I blew away all the dirt and mulch.
One day I realized what was happening.
One day I realized that squirrels were my problem.

The squirrels were gathering nuts for the winter.
All the soft shells from the walnuts were littering the driveway.
All the hard walnuts were being carried away.
The walnuts were being buried only to be retrieved later.

The walnuts were being buried in my mulch.
I looked closer at the dirt that was on my walkway.
Perfect little holes were all along the edge.
Even without digging out the perfect little hole, I knew I would find a walnut there.

I just hope the squirrels remember where they buried the walnuts.
If they do not return to their secret cache, I will have multiple walnut trees growing there.
If they return for some walnuts and leave others, I will have small saplings in the spring.
All along the walkway, there are tiny little holes in the dirt with the mulch tossed aside.

As squirrels go, their hole digging is quite neat.
I always thought that squirrels buried nuts beneath a tree.
I never dreamed that right along the walkway to my front door, their secret cache was buried.
It is buried in plain sight; without the dirt and mulch there I never would have known.

Stories of buried treasure fill the pages of many books.
Stories of treasure maps where X marks the spot are well known.
Imagine if the treasure map is lost.
Imagine if the person who buried the treasure forgets where he buried it.

Somewhere, hidden away, is a treasure to be had for those that find it.
Divers hunt for buried treasure in the sea.
People use metal detectors on the beach to find treasure buried in the sand.
Archeologists find treasure as they dig to piece together clues from a civilization.

Treasure intrigues us.
As much as the treasure is the prize, the hunt for the treasure is equally appealing.
Finding something that someone else once buried is thrilling.
Finding something in an ordinary place makes the find that much more remarkable.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Earthly treasure is a fleeting thing.
The map could get lost.
The X that marks the spot could fade.
The person who buried the treasure could forget where it is buried.

Earthly treasure does not last.
Earthly treasure will inevitably succumb to destruction.
We put our time, effort, and toil into amassing earthly treasures that will one day rust.
We put all of our energy into acquiring those things that the world deems valuable.

What are God’s treasures?
Can God’s treasures be measured by human standards?
Can God’s treasures even be counted?
Can God’s treasures be lost?

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)

That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2: 2,3)

God’s treasures will not be destroyed by moth and rust.
God’s treasures cannot be stolen.
God’s treasures last.
God’s treasures are not buried in the ground but are hidden in Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

We are God’s treasures if we are in Christ.
His greatness and His power are hidden inside of each of us.
Finding His Spirit in an ordinary place makes the find that much more remarkable.
The Spirit of the Lord Jesus, dwelling inside us, is the greatest treasure of all.

Like my walkway with the dirt and the mulch scattered about, we leave a residue of Christ.
We want to leave a bit of Christ wherever we walk and wherever we go.
When we leave the room, the aroma of Christ lingers there.
X marks the spot; the treasure has been detected and cannot be destroyed or stolen.

Praise God.