Treasure

I think I have discovered the secret. It seems too simple! The way to persevere through hardship and heartache is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. In Him, all troubles fade away.

We have treasure! We are rich beyond compare. If redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, then we have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ within our very beings. (2 Corinthians 4:6b) Paul tells us that this treasure is found in jars of clay. Our bodily frames are being compared to clay jars. God always seems to choose strange things to place his incomparable riches! The Messiah, when just a baby, was placed into a feed trough. And the Spirit of God, who possesses all knowledge of the Father and Son, is placed into our weak and sinful beings.

When I reflect on a clay jar, I think of something that doesn’t possess a lot of cost in and of itself. What is inside is what makes it valuable. The clay can be easily shattered and broken. Our bodies have physical limitations. We each have shattered dreams. Our appearance is usually something we aren’t proud to flaunt. When we focus on these issues, we become downcast and laden with despair.

But, when we look at the treasure inside of our weak and poor jars, we find something that is priceless. When God fills our being, our ugly and battered lives are able to point to the glory of God alone, because there is nothing that these weak vessels can offer in and of themselves.

It is so easy to become discouraged in this world. But, we have hope! Paul says that, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” How on earth is this possible, you may ask? Because God is making life new on the inside. As we waste away on the outside and join Christ in his sufferings, we are daily being filled with fresh grace and revelation of the Saving One.

Of course, we would rather be at home with the Lord. And though everything says otherwise, we have no reason to lose heart. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on the treasure within and not ourselves, we will make it! We have the hope to persevere because we know that nothing can happen to our bodies on this earth that will take away the glory and celebration of our eternal home. In Christ, our treasure, we simply are victorious.