Hidden Treasure Parable

There is a parable which has been misinterpreted many years in my life. It is a parable like treasure in a field. I used to think a man in the parable indicates a person who found treasure. The treasure was thought as the gospel of Jesus Christ. If that is the case, then it is equal to say that humans can purchase the gospel of Jesus Christ with material things. Or some might say that if man gives up everything in order to purchase the treasure in the field. But that is exactly opposite what the scriptures say. We cannot buy the gospel of salvation by any means even with life. It can be given as the gift of God unto us through His grace only. Therefore, the treasure is church and a man is Christ Jesus who laid down His life to purchase the treasure of church out of the bondage of slavery under the devil. He Himself became the ransom sacrifice to redeem the hidden treasure out of the world. That is the picture of the kingdom of heaven. The body of Christ purchased through the blood of the cross in Calvary is the treasure hidden in the world. The church of Christ is people who have been redeemed by grace and mercy according to the promise. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, Jesus says.

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

Written Word for Our Learing

The events like the flood and the Pentecost had happened not only for the people who directly affected but for our learning and instructions down through the generations and ages. All things are occurring in time and eternity by the loving and infallible hands of God. So, we shall take a careful heed to what our God has demonstrated out of long-suffering and comfort. God does not leave us in darkness to find out a way out at best. God shines light into our hearts through the factual events and occurrences in our midst. Faithful servants like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul, Peter. John, have recorded for us to understand how God has been shining the marvelous light of Jesus Christ the Lord out of the world. Gospel truly becomes the gospel for each of us when we personally accept the One who did all things for His glory. The gospel is Person, the Son of Man. Until the Person incarnates into our hearts the gospel remains only as knowledge. When we are truly and completely possessed by the Person of Jesus Christ we can finally be fulfilled and satisfied in full. That's what we are commissioned for dispensing and appropriating the mysteries of God at the proper time faithfully.

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 NKJV)

"Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:23-25 NKJV)

"Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. (I Corinthians 10:6 NKJV)

All Trouble Common to Man

It seems our trials and sufferings are most harsh and even terrible compared to others. Others seem to relax and enjoy life, especially those who are wealthy and proud. However, our God sees them as rather surprisingly and completely common. The mind of God is revealed by Paul in the letter to the Corinthians. All the troubles and wrestles are common to man, Apostle says. God prescribed the human recovery program when Adam fell and collapsed to meet the commandment. God cursed the devil who is the mastermind of lie and murder and promised to send a Mediator to deliver mankind from the evil one. Then God gave the woman birth pain and desire for her husband and gave Adam hard toil and sweat for survival till his death (Genesis 3:14-19). Since Adam succumbed to the devil's falseness, disobeying the commandment of God, that evil mind has been deeply embedded in humanity. God sees all humans as the victims of the devil. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to accept in ignorance and blindness. In order to rescue the degenerated people who have been made in His image and His likeness, God prescribed a lifelong program which gives a thousand and one opportunities to see the faithful and loving Father in His Son Jesus Christ and to return to Him. God knows how much each can take and with the trouble will also make the way of escape. In Christ Jesus, there are no trials and troubles that we may not be able to bear.

 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

Today Salvation Has Come

Salvation comes without any partiality only when man humbly asks for help. Man asks for help rather the last minute when he found himself in the box with no way out. Zacchaeus was in that state of bankruptcy after all carefully sought after the solutions available in the world and religion. He found himself as a lost one, not knowing where to go and what to do. Mechanical, habitual, monotonous, dull, humdrum, tired life never reach out to the inner most thirst and hunger. Money seems like giving much but in effect delivers nothing. Promising job always gives confusion and uncertainty and most of all ever increasing tiredness and loneliness. Our God is searching such a thirsty soul to give true life, eternal life. The moment to yield ourselves to the Lord Jesus is the day of salvation. That is today. Every morning whether gloomy, rainy, stormy, sunny is today the Lord's salvation has come.

"And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9, 10 NKJV)

Faith

Faith is not feeling but believing. Faith is not believing in fantasies but in facts. Faith is not believing facts on things but on God who is invisible. Faith is not knowledge only but with deeds. Faith does not evade obstacles but face them. Faith is a gift from heaven above not from the earth. Since faith is coming from the Father, we fix our eyes on Jesus who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Faith is dynamics to live a life worthy of calling. We don't live by what we see but by what we do not see. It is impossible to please God without faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

Truth Set Free

The truth will set you free, Jesus says. God is truth, so He reveals reality. What God sees and thinks is truth and reality. There is no freedom where uncertainty and confusion loom. When we know what we are we can be sure and confident in whatever we do in our lives. We can know who we are only when we hold on Jesus' words. What we are in Jesus Christ is sons of God. As sons of God all God has is ours. Since we know the truth, we are free indeed in Jesus Christ. We are out of the iron grip of bondage and slavery of confusion. So, we can be what we want to be. We can be content what we are as the servants of God now and forever.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32 NKJV)

Christ, the Son of God, Giver of Life

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31 NKJV)

John tells us why he wrote the gospel? It is for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we may have life in His name. Three things John tells us here. First of all, Jesus is the Christ. Christ means the Messiah, the promised One to come to save His people. Many prophets repeatedly prophesied of His coming as the Lamb of God. Even God Himself pronounced the coming of the seed of woman (Genesis 3:15). Jesus says that anyone who enters the sheepfold not through the door is a thief and a robber. But he who enters the door is the shepherd of sheep (John 10:1-2). Jesus came in the likeness of human and died and buried and rose again from the dead according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

He is the Son of God. He is the Triune God. In the beginning there was Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). He created all things and noting was not made without Him (John 1:3).

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV)

In addition, we may believe that believing we may life in His name. That’s the only way to come to the Father in heaven (John 14:6). God so loved the world that he gave His begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus Christ invites all kinds of people who thirst and hunger to come and drink, then river of living water will overflow from within (John 7:37-38). Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, Another Counselor, who abides within forever (John 14:16). The resurrection life is ours now and forever since we have believed in the Christ Jesus and the Son of God.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 NKJV)

Noah and the Flood

No one knows of the Day of the Lord, but God only. However, Jesus gives us a reasonable hint how we shall be prepared for it. It would never be enough to say about His coming. Paul exhorts us to be sober and watchful because the night is nearly over (Romans 13:12). Jesus says that the Day of the Lord will be like the days of Noah. The flood swept through the earth and destroyed all the living beings, both humans and animals except Noah and his families and the selected animals.

The message of the flood is that there will be such a day, the Day of Judgment, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again. It also tells us that the Son of God will be coming like the days of Noah. As in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Eating and drinking, and marrying are normal and ordinary activities of human lives. There is nothing wrong with that. The Judgment of God comes like a thief at night. While people are normally maintaining lives, Jesus will come suddenly and unexpectedly. The Day of Judgment will come at the end of physical life for each individual. No one knows when he dies. Therefore, Jesus says, “You also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:36-44 NKJV)

Wrath of God

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven, the scripture says. It means God exposes the human evil by allowing it to happen if he chooses to do. Why does God allow evil? It's because God wants to teach man a lesson that he cannot fulfill life by breaking law set before the creation of the world. The scriptures record a few extreme cases that those who violated the law experienced the immediate physical death. Why not happens to all? It's happening inevitably to all who perverts the ways of the Lord. Guilt, shame, despair, depression, boredom are the results of perversion. But the punishment is not what God wants to give but the salvation is. The wrath of God is being revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of mankind to give warning and awakening shot to repent and believe in the love of God.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (Romans 1:18, 19 NKJV)

                              

Lose Your Life Then Find It

What does it mean that whoever loses his life will find it but whoever saves it will lose it? Is it not exactly opposite of what the world says? The natural man ever desires to fulfill his life. It is deeply implanted in the race. There is nothing wrong with that. However, what people in the world try to fulfill life almost inevitably is through the visible and tangible things of the world like material possessions and earning reputations out of the mundane world. The problem is that though they seem to give much but they deliver nothing. Drugs, sex, alcohols, expensive cars, dream houses, lofty societies are some of them. Academia, industries, religions, even evangelical churches are not excluded. The whole world is driving in a formidable fashion to total futility. That’s what Jesus says here whoever wants to save his life by means of the world shall lose it.

On the other hand, Jesus says that whoever loses his life for His sake will find it. It doesn’t mean that we die physically for His cause. Rather it means to deny the manner the world conforms to fulfill life. The world says to get your right now even if others may suffer loss. Jesus says, “Let him deny himself.” There is the old man in us, who has been born of Adam and demands endlessly of right. That old man shall be put to death first in order to live a new life in Jesus Christ. This new life is only available to the regenerated saints. One prerequisite to this marvelous life in Jesus Christ is to deny the old self, the cessation of right for His sake. It may take some time even years to learn and exercise this truth. But that’s only way to find life.

Jesus did not save Himself bur rather laid down His life for us. He offered His body as the ransom sacrifice to become a grain of wheat which fell into the ground and died. Whosoever comes unto Jesus Christ shall find eternal life because by means of death He rose again from the dead and able to give a whole new life.

This life is available anytime and anywhere to the regenerated saints only if he loses his life. No death, no resurrection. No pain, no gain.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:24-25 NKJV)

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:17-24 NKJV)

Glory in Weaknesses

Why do the scriptures say that when we are weak then we are strong? The world says exactly the opposite. It doesn't mean that Christians should be cowards in everything. Rather, it means the true strength lies not on man himself but on his appreciation of weakness. No matter how a man achieves or possesses, it cannot increase the true strength at all. There is absolutely zero contribution for that in any bodily form. It’s because what comes out of man are all but malice, envy, conceits, deceits, murders, anger, hatred, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimony, slander. So, ‘when we are weak,’ means that we recognize the total bankruptcy to be humanly strong in handling our lives. Practically, it means that we let down everything whatever we think is admirable by humans. It’s the realization of Jesus Christ present within in every area of lives. Jesus calls such men the poor in the spirit. Paul expressed the deep cry after all he found himself as a wretched man. That’s the moment of being truly weak in the flesh and strong in the Lord. That’s the authentic Christian living designed by God before the creation of the world.

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NKJV)

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:24-25 NKJV)

Redeem the Time

What do we do in this dark and crooked times? Remind of what Lord Jesus did when we were still the enemies of God. Christ did not save Himself but laid down His life for us in order to redeem us from the slavery of the devil. He payed the ransom price for the redemption of the lost race. That's what our Lord did in in the days of evils and perverts. Lord Jesus Christ is still redeeming the chosen of God through the Spirit. Apostle Paul admonishes the saints to buy up (redeem) the time in the midst of troubles and sufferings, because these are the open doors given by the Father in heaven.

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15, 16 NKJV)

A Light and Momentary Affliction

How can we be proved of faith if not tested? How can we learn how to handle our lives if not challenged? Life is a continual struggle one after another. No one can evade from the real struggles. All kinds of people are entitled to go through the continual challenges and pressures. Nevertheless, many a people are in fantasies and illusions and even delusions. Multitude of Christians joins these kinds of people unwittingly and ignorantly.

Why there are continual challenges and pressures lie ahead of all people? They are all designed and programmed by God the Lord of hosts as the opportunities for us to see all things realistically. Life is not a game playing, nor randomly given some lucky others unlucky. The Scripture says that God created the heavens and the earth. Nothing was made without the purpose of the Creator. Jesus says even a sparrow would not fall down if the Father did not allow it. How much more valuable is the human’s life than the sparrow’s.

Not long after the beginning, humans had gone wrong badly that they even think that they could live without God the Creator. The Prophet Isaiah lamented for his people who didn’t remember their God. “The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” (Isaiah 1:3 NKJV) Humans have been deceived by the liar, the father of lie and murderer. Adam fell into confusion and delusion and so do all his descendants.

God in His longsuffering has put the fallen humanity into the wonderful recovery program which takes lifetime to learn. When God visited Adam in the Garden and asked a few questions. Adam and his wife both confessed that they ate the forbidden tree. When they confessed the wrongs, God pronounced the marvelous recovery program for all humanity.

“So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:14-19 NKJV)

First of all, God cursed the devil who deceived and victimized man, pronouncing an everlasting verdict on him that he shall be in the utter humiliation and defeat. Ultimately Satan will be condemned and put into the eternal burning sulfur. God is just and will revenge the enemies (Romans 12:19). God sent His begotten Son to redeem the chosen people through the blood.

To the woman God gave the great and multiplying sorrow and pain in childbearing. To the man God gave the lifetime toil and labor till he returns to the ground. How could God’s pronouncement not be the curse but the recovery program? It is because the enemy of humanity is not humans but the devil. The devil infiltrated into humanity and polluted badly so that we are born to be selfish and proud and self-centered. This is called sin which completely has transfigured us like the monstrous beings. At times many are puzzled and bewildered by such cruel acts done by humans. The devil is still influencing humanity a great deal that he can twist and distort our thoughts and minds unexpectedly and suddenly.

The twist and distort of truth is deeply entrenched in our humanity. That’s why God keeps on sending us challenges and obstacles down the road as a loving Father in an endeavor to reach out the lost race with a loud megaphone. Paul confirms that all sufferings and difficulties are common to all men.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

So, we do not lose heart. God’s divine program for recovering and restoring humans to the point where God intended to be before the time began is working beautifully and marvelously that thousands of tens of thousands are coming to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV)