Hidden Treasure You Can Find (John 17:3)

Introduction

I’m sure it’s a show that a lot of you watch regularly. It’s on the History Channel. I don’t ever watch the History Channel. But if you’re a big history channel watcher, you’ve been watching The Curse of Oak Island. No. Somebody’s watching it because. Okay, I think some people watch. Because it’s been running for five years. You don’t have a show that lasts for five years unless somebody’s watching. And believe it or not, it’s running for a sixth season. Supposedly. And I tell you, the only reason why I know about it is my dad, who is 82 years old loves that show. And wants to talk to me about it on a regular basis. Well, supposedly, Oak Island, this wooded island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, has a treasure hidden in it.

And there is a legend that seven must die before the treasure is found. Well, the count stands at six. And so in its sixth season, unfortunately somebody’s going to have to die, if the legend is correct, for this treasure to be discovered. Now, to get the numbers right, it really should happen in the seventh season. That the seventh guy dies. But that’s that’s enough, so it could be a couple of years away. But this treasure may be found. If this legend is true, wouldn’t it be something if such a treasure was lost? I was thinking about how hard it is to find stuff. I mean, sometimes with the new technology we have, things can be discovered at the bottom of the ocean or perhaps on this island that might not have been discovered that easily years ago.

But I’m thinking pretty much, pretty much, most everything that’s out there to be found has been found. And I noticed this just in relation to being at the Smoky Mountains recently, I thought, what are the odds that as Sherry and I are hiking in somewhat desolate places at times, that we could find an arrowhead on the I’d love that. I’d love to look down. There’s an arrowhead. But you’re going to have to get very far off the beaten path, probably, to find a lot of arrowheads anymore. When I was a kid, that was a deal. You know, you could actually find one. And that was cool. I don’t know that I ever did, but I know people who did. So I want to talk to you this morning about seeking treasure.

We’re going to seek treasure today. And as I announced, it’s a treasure, a hidden treasure that you can find. Now, if there is a hidden treasure, and it’s found in the scripture, where do you think it might be hidden? If I was going to hide something in the scripture, I might choose one of the more lengthy volumes to hide it that often do not get perused by folks, such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, but even better yet, I think I would hide it in Leviticus. Nobody would find it there.

This idea I actually got at 30,000 feet. It is amazing how many ideas I get while flying on planes to gospel meetings. Or when I go see my parents. Something about 30,000 feet, where I’m putting these notes on my iPad. I discovered this in April, and I’m just now getting to it. But when I was in the meeting at Danville, I told them about my discovery of what I had found and included it in one of the lessons that I’m excited about. So if I go back home, they’re going to hear this sermon. And it was going to be June when you heard it. But here it is. I was studying my sermon Oaks of Righteousness, which I did on the last Sunday, New Year’s Eve here, 2017.

That was sort of my New Year’s sermon, if you’ll remember. And there’s some passages in there that I was looking at in preparation to preach that up in Indiana, and I ran along the discovery. Uncovering some hidden things, some hidden treasure in Colossians. Now again, unlike those other books that I mentioned, the very odd thing about that is these hidden things are found in a book that only has ninety-five verses. Not a great place to hide things, but obviously God wants them to be found. Even though they are hidden things. And I want to help you find them this morning. Because so often they are not found. So often they are not known or embraced. And what a success this lesson will be if everyone here comes to know these things and embraces them and finds the treasure that results.

So what am I expecting here? Will we discover some magic nugget of truth that will change absolutely everything for you? Nah. It’s possible. Will we discover? Will we find something in this discovery that will put fuel in your tank spiritually and help you down life’s road in a stronger and better way than ever before? It’s possible. What are those hidden things? Before we go on exploring in the book of Colossians, I want to affirm to you that no earthly treasure, not in Oak Island or anywhere else, not in your backyard, not in that oil that sits right underneath your property that is going to make you a multi-trillionaire. No treasure found in this world matches the treasure that we’ll be talking about this morning, and that Jesus enunciated himself in John 17 and verse 3.

This is the theme of the entire lesson, though it is not found in Colossians, but it is the truth that supports the message of Colossians. It is the treasure among all treasures, and this is eternal life, that you might know the Father. But they might know you, Jesus says.

I want you to know what that verse is telling you. And this is eternal life, that they, you and me, might know him. And be it that we might know Jesus, whom he has sent. Actually, the treasure that we are going to unlock or uncover in the book of Colossians is based on that word hidden. As we’ve talked about hidden things or hidden treasure. This word hidden is found three times in Colossians, and that’s what I saw at 30,000 feet. I thought there’s something to that we have this repeated. And in regard to these hidden things in Colossians, there is one thing that was hidden. There is another thing that is hidden and often is hidden. And there is something that should be hidden. And of these three uses, they are found in chapters 1, 2, and 3.

1. The Mystery Hidden No More

Chapter 1 that I’ve already revealed so that there is no mystery. And that’s just the point.

No more. And it is this mystery, as Paul spoke of it on more than one occasion, as he does in Ephesians chapter 1. It is the fact that this mystery is no longer hidden, that the treasures of which I am speaking today can be ascertained and can be embraced by you and by me. That is, verse 26, Colossians chapter 1, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now, okay, now we’re talking about first century, but has now been manifest. Manifested to his saints. The mystery has come to light. Of this mystery, looking at the context of this, Paul says in verse 25, of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God, bestowed on me for your benefit.

That’s part of the treasure. This message that I’m preaching. Your benefit is in view. That I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God. Now, we’re not going to know this benefit without that. Fully carrying out the preaching of the Word of God. To whom God, verse 27, willed to make known. He made known this mystery. What is the riches of the glory of this mystery? Among the Gentiles. Not just the Jews who had been his covenant people in ages past, but even more the Gentiles. And what is the nature of this mystery that has been revealed? That is hidden no more. Christ in you.

Gospel story. What’s it all about? Christ in you. The hope of glory. And those two things go together and can’t be separated. Relationship, not Jesus literally being inside my body. I talk about this all the time, but me embracing Christ and all that he means as Savior, deliverer, Lord, Christ in you. Emulating Him, following Him as His disciple, Christ in you, focused on Christ, putting Him foremost in your heart and life, Christ in you, the hope of glory. That’s a great verse. And we proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose I labor, striving according to his power, which mightily works within me. A wisdom that has been revealed that rulers of this age had not known, Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 8.

2. All the Treasures Hidden in Christ

If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, because that’s what secured it. Things which eye has not seen, an ear is not heard, nor has entered into the heart of man. No man conceived this, no man could have imagined this. The plan of salvation through Jesus Christ crucified. The mystery. No more. What is the nature of this mystery? After he admonishes these believers, those who have embraced Christ to be encouraged and be knit together in love. He says, and attaining verse 2 to all the wealth. Where’s our treasure? 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.

The true knowledge of the mystery pertains to Christ Himself. The treasures that are involved that we can so easily find in Colossians 95 verses, we don’t have to stumble through all of the little passages of Leviticus that talk about sacrifice under the old covenant. They are clearly and plainly shown in this short tiding book of the New Testament and elsewhere in the New Testament, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ. Not hidden so that they cannot be found. But in a place where they are secured by him.

Found only in him.

But I want to tell you, the treasures you need in the ultimate treasures are found here. Hidden in Christ. He is the key to access to these treasures. You can’t do it in around on Jesus and somehow circumvent him and find your way to these. They’re hidden in him.

They will not be discovered elsewhere. And you are powerless to discover them without him. Matthew 11. Verse 25. He says in Colossians 2 and verse 4, as you’re flipping over to Matthew 11, he says, let no one defraud you or delude you by persuasive argument. I want to tell you that verse comes to me more to me all the time. There are messages upon messages upon messages of people who are defrauding people of the hidden treasures in Christ. As they lead people to erroneous thoughts and concepts that destroy. He says, You need to be rooted. As you have received Christ’s soul walk in him, you need to be rooted and established in your faith, he says in Colossians 2, 6 and 7, overflowing with gratitude. You’ve got to stay the course here because of what is at stake.

But only in Jesus, Matthew 11 and verse 25, I praise thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligence. Intelligence, intelligent, and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well pleasing in your sight. All things, all things, look at that. Verse 27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son. And anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal it. Look, there’s only one way. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. Remember? Knowing the Father. And the Son is eternal life.

You can’t do this without Jesus. It’s not possible. Only whom the Son wills to reveal them. And he says, it is the babes. It is not people who are carried away with themselves. It is not people who are full of pride. It is people who humble themselves and come to listen and embrace the treasures that Jesus affords. And the reason why I went to Matthew 11 is because of what follows. Look at the context. Sometimes we start in verse 28. I think we should start in verse 25. Come to me. All who are weary and heavy laden. And I will give you rest. Come. Take my yoke upon you. And learn of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart. And you shall find rest for your sins.

3. Your Life Is Hidden With Christ in God

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is right. The fact that these treasures are hidden in him leads to the final hidden thing in chapter three. Colossians 3 begins with some admonishing words about what those who are in Christ should do. What the course of their life should be all about. Remember, I said this is the should be hidden thing. Colossians 3 verse 3. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. What’s that mean?

Hidden with Him means a place of safe keeping. Hidden in a place safe and secure that no man can touch, placing complete confidence in Him, regardless of tantalizing detours for severe affliction. When you are hidden with Him, no attack of man can win. When you are hidden with him, no trial is too great to overcome. When you are hidden with him, you have his expert care and assistance. When our health is in jeopardy, we want only the best medical care. We don’t want some guy or some female with a fraudulent degree from some fake university. We want a real doctor who has a great reputation and who has actually healed patients. We want to entrust our physical health because it’s so valuable to us, unto those who can give us the best possible care.

Listen, Jesus is the great physician. We need to entrust our souls to him. He will never fail us. He is the ultimate caretaker. Thus, we should be hidden with him.

For you have died.

To hide our lives with Christ. Paul taught, Paul taught this, by the way, in Galatians 3:27, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. You’ve hid your life with him. But the hard part of that is the baptism part, which means I am dying to self. I am dying to an old body of sin. It’s the death part that is the rub. And that’s the point of Romans chapter 6. That’s why the saying, continue in sin that grace may abound. That’s why it’s bogus. Because your baptism and death. Romans 6 was not written to convert a sinner. It can do that. It gives us some valuable instruction. But that’s not its first and primary purpose. Romans 6’s primary purpose was to explain to Christians what their baptism meant.

You died to sin. That’s what it was all about. That’s what it meant. You said, no more of this. I’m going this way. There’s death there. The wages of sin is death, he says at the end of that chapter. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. I have been sanctified. There’s nothing back there I need to go toward because there’s death there. Don’t be enslaved again. But derive your benefit from sanctification and holding on to eternal life. We will never stay the course. As long as we don’t appreciate the wages of sin. And what it means to have been by nature children of wrath. Or deserving of wrath. As he says in Ephesians 2 and verse 3, as we were gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts dead in your transgressions and sins.

We’ll not stay the course and be hidden with him if we don’t appreciate what we’ve been delivered from. And we will not stay the course as long as we don’t appreciate the exceeding value of righteousness. And we will not stay the course if we do not spend sufficient time in contemplation and appreciation of those two things I just mentioned. Treasure beyond measure, rest for your souls. That’s the offer of the gospel. It’s because of those things that we should set our actions on things above in the context that we’ve just been reading. Keep seeking things above. Keep pursuing that new self because Christ is all and in all.

Conclusion

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in his name. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book The Cost of Discipleship begins thusly, and I’ve quoted this before. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. Poignant words. When we die to ourselves and decide to no longer live for ourselves but live for him, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 tells us. We hide our lives with him. And every one of us desperately needs to do that so that we’ll find all the treasure of the wisdom and knowledge that is hidden in him. Won’t you find it today? While there’s time and opportunity. Let’s stand and say.