The Divine Treasure Hunt—Part 2 – Steve Orr

Please follow and like us:
fb-share-icon
Tweet

The Tabernacle of God:

The Old Covenant Tabernacle was constantly on the move. It was a tent, the temporary dwelling that was packed up and moved with every wandering of the nation of Israel as it sought the promised land beyond the shores of Egypt.

While the journey of our lives may seem like aimless wandering, god’s dwelling place is fixed when we receive the “permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit,” as Jesus taught (John 14:16-17; 16:7). This is confirmed by Paul’s rhetorical question, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Cor 6:19).

Throughout the New Testament, Paul struggles against Gnostics who use human intellect to attempt to discover truth by delving into sources of mysticism. To combat this, Paul refers to a different kind of mystery as revealed by the teacher, the Son of God, and by revelation of the Holy Spirit.

It’s hard to find things when you can’t see well. In our search, we need great vision. To understand the treasure, Scripture reveals that we need to use our hearts as Paul has written:

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18)

As I meditate on this verse, I see that our understanding of God, the Bible, and the one who is the Word of God involve “Matters of the Heart.”

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul unequivocally states that the mystery was revealed to him personally by revelation:

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. (Ephesians 3:2-5)

Now let’s consider what Paul writes about his hopes for the church at Colossae:

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3 NKJV).

What is this knowledge about? It’s not just about where all the gold is; more importantly, it’s about what the treasure is, our “riches of his glorious inheritance.”

The Greek word for mystery (musterion) is used 27 times in the NT, mainly by Paul when he refers to truths that were not understood previously but are now understood by revelation of the spirit. This hope of glory in Christ was revealed to the early church.

Jesus revealed to his disciples the new role the Spirit of Truth would play in their lives: “He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). I see the entire discourse in the gospel of John through chapters 14 to 17 as Jesus’ preparing his disciples in advance for his soon coming absence with his crucifixion, and his departure with his ascension. In his final moments, Jesus prayed for you, saying:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. (John 17:20-23)

Jesus, who was very God in the flesh, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God prayed to God the Father that we would find our treasure in him. Jesus says he has given us glory. With this, you can be well assured that Jesus’ prayer for you was answered in full.

I wholeheartedly suggest that the reader make time for a contemplative reading of John chapters 14 to 17. Selah…

Now that we know what the treasure is, where is it exactly?

Paul writes, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3.16 ESV)

There’s a clue: the great treasure is somewhere in this temple (or tabernacle). With this clue, we will continue our quest for treasure in Part 3.

Steve Orr writes to us from Montana. After working in the mecca of technology, Steve traded the rat race of Silicon Valley for the adventures of High Tech in Big Sky Country. Steve has an MBA with experience in accounting, finance, technology, and management. He occasionally writes a little software code, but mostly he likes writing about Matters of the Heart.