The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44 ESV
At the young and tender age of 17, God came into my life in an authentic and powerful way. My self-centred living and all my selfish ambitions and plans melted when I discovered the heights and depths of God’s love for me. For the first time in my life, I found the hidden treasure of infinite worth – a living relationship with Jesus Christ. It has a life-changing meaning to everything in my life.
God is now my highest goal in life; it includes all my decisions, plans, ambitions, and dreams – surrendered to Him. God owns my time, talent, and resources. Prayer and Scripture are critical as my guide and source of strength and wisdom; my heart and my mind are captivated by God’s words.
Jesus is my model in character, and I want to be like Him in all things. It was a struggle [and it still is] to change my old ways to God’s ways. Following God and transforming to be like Him in all things will take a lifetime, and it requires patience.
One significant change for me was who I chose to spend time with. I used to be part of a neighbourhood group of boys, but when I found the hidden treasure, I spent more time with people with the same principles and values. I still meet many people who have not found the hidden treasure yet, and I try to bring all others to discover that treasure. I committed to a group that helped me grow in my faith and who I can serve – a change from a selfish mentality.
I see my life as I live now as temporary – the real life, where I can spend eternity with God and His friends, is the real life that I look forward to. No matter what life throws at me, I plan to make it to the end – because the hidden treasure will only come in reality at the end. Heaven is my one true home. I belong to Him, and God belongs to me. Sinner that I am, I always avail of God’s unending forgiveness. And so, I have an eternal perspective on all things. I view everything in the light of the upcoming shortness of life and the infinite value of eternity.
One thing I learned in this life is that I am a winner already because of my hidden treasure – regardless of how things go with my daily challenges. It does not matter how much I have – I have God’s heaven as my inheritance, and I have riches that can never be stolen, rust, or fade away. I do not plan to please people – I am only concerned with pleasing God. I can never have a victim mentality – because I am a victor in the Lord. My identity and self-worth come from my relationship with God and nothing else.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 (ESV)
How about you – have you found the hidden treasure, the one that has life-changing meaning to you? How much has Christianity changed the way you live? How deep-rooted is your faith in Jesus? Have you passed the tests of life’s challenges, endurance, relationship difficulties, and self-doubts, among other things?
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C. S. Lewis
Top image credit: photo of a golden key laying in the sand, from BigStock.com, © by soupstock, stock photo ID:292026454. Used with permission.
Tom Caballes is a National Coordinator of the Lamb of God, a community of the Sword of the Spirit with seven branches located throughout New Zealand. Tom and his wife Mhel and their two daughters [with his son-in-law and grand-daughter] live in Wellington, New Zealand.