treasure hunt · 2020-06-06 · treasure hunt 3 that’s the brilliant british philosopher, alan...

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TreasureHuntMatthew6:9-24TheLivingLaw(no.15intheseries)June21,2020PeterHiettVideoandaudioversionsavailableonline:https://relentless-love.org/sermons/treasure-hunt/Transcriptdocumentpreparedby:HeatherEades(eades.heather@gmail.com).ThisdocumentwaspreparedbyHeatherEadesusingPeter’snotesandthevideoversionofthissermon.Ifyouencounteranysignificantdiscrepanciesorerrorsinthisdocument,pleaseletHeatherknow.Thankyou!

PrayerLord,thankyouthatyouloveme,andthatyourlovedoeschangeeverything;infact,that’ssuchaprofoundunderstatement...becauseyouarelove.Notonlydoyouchangeeverything,accordingtoSolomoninEcclesiastes,youdoeverything.Soallglory,honor,andpraisebelongstoyou;andnowweask,Father,thatyouwouldpreachyourWordwhichisJesus.Amen

MessageWe’vebeenpreachingabouttheLord’sPrayerintheSermonontheMount,butwekindofskippedoverthisoneline:

Matthew6:10·“Thykingdomcome,Thywillbedoneinearth,asitisinheaven”(KJV).

Where’sHeaven?What’sHeaven?AndhowdoestheKingdomofHeavencome?Iwatchedthisgreatlittle“AfterSkool”videoonYouTube,atthestartoftheweek,anditgotmethinking…

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Videoclip:“LifeisNOTaJourney—AlanWatts”AfterSkool,YouTubechannel(2017)

Anartistisillustrating/animatingthismonologuegivenbytheBritishphilosopher,writer,andspeaker,AlanWilsonWatts(1915—1973).

(Voiceof)AlanWatts Theexistence—thephysicaluniverse,isbasicallyplayful.Thereisnonecessityforitwhatsoever.Itisn’tgoinganywhere.Thatistosay,itdoesn’thavesomedestinationthatitoughttoarriveat.But,itisbestunderstoodbyanalogywithmusic.Becausemusic,asanartform,isessentiallyplayful.Wesayyouplaythepiano.Youdon’tworkthepiano.Why?Musicdiffersfromsafetravel.Whenyoutravel,youaretryingtogetsomewhere.Onedoesn’tmaketheendofthecomposition,thepointofthecomposition.Ifthatwereso,thebestconductorswouldbethosewhoplayedfastest.Andtherewouldbecomposerswhowroteonlyfinales.Peoplewouldgotoconcertsjusttohearonecrackingchordbecausethat’stheend.(laughing).Samewhendancing,youdon’taimataparticularspotintheroom,that’swhereyoushouldarrive.Thewholepointofthedancingisthedance!Butwedon’tseethatassomethingbroughtbyoureducationintooureverydayconduct.We’vegotasystemofschooling,whichgivesacompletelydifferentimpression.It’sallgradedandwhatwedoisweputthechildintothecorridorofthisgradesystemwithakindof,“Comeon,kitty-kitty,”andnowyougotokindergarten,youknow.Andthat’sagreatthingbecausewhenyoufinishthat,yougetintofirstgrade.Andcomeon,thenfirstgradeleadstosecondgradeandsoon,andthenyougetoutofgradeschoolandyougoontohighschool,andit’srevvingup--thethingiscoming.Andthenyou’regonnagotocollege,and,byJove,thenyougetintograduateschool,andwhenyou’rethroughwithgraduateschool,you’llgooutandjointheworld.Andthenyou’llgetintosomeracketwhereyou’resellinginsurance.Andthey’vegotthatquotatomake.Andyou’regonnamakethat.Andallthattime,thethingiscoming,it’scoming,it’scoming,thatgreatthing–thesuccessyou’reworkingfor.Thenwhenyouwakeuponedaywhenyou’reaboutfortyyearsold,yousay,“MygodI’vearrived.I’mthere.”Andyoudon’tfeelverydifferentfromwhatyou’vealwaysfelt.Byexpectation,lookatthepeoplewholivetoretireandputthosesavingsaway.Andthen,whenthey’re65,theydon’thaveanyenergyleft,they’remoreorlessimpotentanduh,theygoandrotinanoldpeople’s“seniorcitizenscommunity”.Haha.Becausewesimplycheatedourselvesthewholewaydowntheline.Wethoughtoflifebyanalogywithajourney,withapilgrimage,whichhadaseriouspurposeattheend,andthethingwastogettothatend.Success,orwhateveritis,ormaybeHeavenafteryou’redead.Butwemissedthepointthewholewayalong.Itwasamusicalthing,andyouweresupposedtosing,ortodance,whilethemusicwasbeingplayed.

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That’sthebrilliantBritishphilosopher,AlanWatts,whopopularizedagreatdealofEasternspiritualityinWesternculture.Sincehespokethosewords(probablysometimeinthe50sor60s),physicistshaveshownthatthephysicaluniversedidhaveabeginningandwilllikelyhaveanend,soitis“goingsomewhere.”Theyjustdon’tknowifthatsomewhereiswhatyou’dcall“Good.”Buthavingsaidthat,AlanWattsmakesawonderfulpointaboutthepoint.Ifwesimplythinkoflifeasajourneytogettosomesortoftreasureattheend—callit“success,”or“theGood,”or“theKingdomofHeaven”—ifyouthinkwe’reonlyheretogetsomewhereelse,thenallourplaybecomesworkandwestopdancing,forwe’vemissed“thepoint.”You’llrememberthatafewweeksago,wesaidthattheonlyconceivablewaywecoulddothethingsthatJesusasksustodointheSermonontheMount—like,loveunselfconsciouslyinabsoluteperfection—theonlywaywecouldloseourlivesandfindthemperfectlycoordinatedbyGracewouldbeifweweresomehowdancingorplaying–(notworking)butplayingalong.Ifheavenisonlyinthefuture,weseemtomissany“good”thatisnow.“Thykingdomcome,”saidJesus.“It’scoming!”Andyet,nobodyseemedtoenjoythewineatdinner“rightnow,”morethanJesus.Nobodyenjoyedthelaughterofchildrenineachmomentmorethanhedid.Heseemedtobeabletodance,nomatterthesituation—evenonthenighthewasbetrayed,hepraisedGodfordinnerwithhisfriendsandallowedhisbetrayertogivehimakiss.Jesuslivedeachmomenttothefullest.1.So,ifheavenisonlyinthefuture,weseemtomissanygoodthatisnow,andevenmore,2.Wetakethegoodandturnitintoevil.ItwasSt.Augustine,thefirstgreatWesterntheologian,whoarguedthatforthesakeofHeaveninthefuture,wecouldcreatealittlehellrightnow;wecouldmakefolksrepentatthepointofasword.HeusedthestoryoftheGreatBanquettomakehiscase,arguingthattheMastertoldhisservanttocompelpeopletocometotheFeast.HeseemedtoforgetthatJesusisthatservant,andhecompelsuswithhisownbodybrokenandbloodshed.Aswe’vebeensaying,ifwe’re“good”forsomerewardinthefuture,ifweactgoodtogainsomeothergood,itjustrevealsthatwe’renotgoodnow;we’reactors—hypocritos,hypocrites.

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1.Ifthekingdomofheavenissimplytheendofthejourney,wemissthegoodthatisnow,or2.Violatethegoodandturnitintoevil,and3.Weprobablywouldn’twanttoarriveatourdestination,forwewouldn’tknowwhatitwas.Imean,we’realllookingfor“TheGood,”andweseemtobehavingahellofatimefiguringoutjustwhatitis—whatHeavenis.SinceI’vebeenpreachingthatthekingdomofHeavenistheultimatedestinyforallofus,I’vebeenreallysurprisedatthenumberofpeoplethathaveexpressedconcernovertheideaofbeingstuckinaneternityofgoingnowherebecauseyou’realreadythere—itsoundseternallyboring.So,heavencannotsimplybetheendofajourneythroughspaceandtime.Butlet’shopethatheavenismorethansimplywhatI’mexperiencingnow.Because…well,thatwouldberatherdisappointing.Ifyouonlyexperienceonemomentinasymphony,youdon’texperiencethesymphony,whetherit’sonecrashingchordattheendorsomethinginthemiddle.Thethingthatmakesacomposition“acomposition”isthatthereisaComposer.Andthethingthatmakesmusic“music”isthatitgoessomewhere.Andwhatgivesyoutheabilitytosingalongordancetothemusicisthatyouhaveanideawhereit’sgoing,andthatyou’vecometotrustthatthecomposerofthecompositionisgood.Imeanthethingthatallowsyoutoappreciatethecrashingchordattheendisthefactthatyou’vegoneonajourneythroughthesymphony.Andit’sthecrashingchordattheendthatmakesyouappreciatethejourneythroughthesymphony,foryouknowthateverynotehasmeaning.Youknowthatalltheinstrumentsandnoteswillbuildintoabeautifulharmony—acrescendoattheend….acrescendothatwillmakeyouwanttolistenagainandagainandagaintothewholesymphony.Imean,thethingthatallowsyoutoappreciatetheendofastoryisthefactthatyou’vemadethejourneythroughthebook.Anditistheconclusionattheendofthebookthatmakeseverypageworthreading,foryouknoweveryeventhasmeaning.iIfLifehasnodestination,inthewordsofShakespeare,then,“Life…isataletoldbyanidiot,fullofsoundandfury,signifyingnothing.”iiButwhenIreadareallygreatstory,likeTheLordoftheRings,andIgettotheend,Irealizethatallthesoundandfurysignifiedsomethingwonderful, andIwanttoreaditoveragain… andthesecondtimewillbebetterthanthefirst... andI’llbegintonotonlyreadalong,butlivemylifealong. ImightactuallycastmyringofpowerintothefiresofMt.DoomalongwithFrodo. ImightactuallygoonajourneywithFrodoinmyheart.WhenIlistentoareallygreatmusicalcomposition,like“FreeBird”byLynyrdSkynyrd,andIgettotheend,I’llwanttohearitagainandagainandagain.Andatacertainpoint,I’llwanttodanceandscreamanddrivemycarahundredmilesanhourbecauseIcan’tcontainthejoy.

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Doyousupposethattherecouldbeastorysogreat,orasymphonysobeautifulthatyouwouldnever,everwanttostophearingitonceagain?Foreachtimeyouheardthemusic,orreadthestory,youfounddeepermeaning,andgreaterandgreaterbeauty.Now,ifIthoughtIhadtowritethestorymyselfandcomposethesongmyself,Icouldn’treallyplayalong.AndhowwouldIknowifitwasgood?Andifsomeonesaid,“Writeandcompose,anditbetterbegood,orthingswon’tbegoodforyou…”Well,allmyplaywouldturnintowork,andmydancewouldbenothingbutapainfuldiscipline.That’swhathappenstochildreninthisworldandwhytheystopdancing:They“growup;”theybecome“response-able”andnolongerabletorespondtothemusic;they’renolongerlistening,nolongertrustinganyonebutthemselves.Atthatpoint,wecallthem“adults.”Well,ifIthoughtthatIwastheauthorofmyownstoryandthecomposerofmyownsong,Icouldn’tplayalong,andI’dstopdancing.AndifIdidn’ttrusttheauthororcomposer,I’dgetstuckononepageoraddictedtoonenote.Imean,that’swhataddictionis,whatsinis,don’tyouthink?It’slikegoingtothesymphonyandhearingabeautifulAminorontheObo—so,youstopthesymphonyandsay,“IdemandthatyoukeepplayingthatAminoronthatobo!”

Youdon’ttrustthatthecomposercouldcreatemorebeauty.Youdon’ttrustthattheotherinstrumentsalsomatter.Youdon’ttrustthattheAminorwillreturnaspartofacrescendo,resurrectedinglory.

It’slikehavingaglassofwine,thenanother,andanother,andanother,unawarethatyouaredestinedtoforeverdrinkthewineoftheKingdom.It’slikehavingsexbutrefusingtosurrendercontrol,unawarethatyouaredestinedforacommunionofinfiniteecstasywithyourCreator.I’mjustsayingthatHeavencan’tsimplybetheendofajourneythatsucksthelifeoutofeverymomentnow.AndHeavencan’tsimplybewhateverisnow,regardlessofwhereit’sallheaded,forthenwecouldn’tsing,dance,orplayalong—wecouldn’tentrustourselvestotheComposer.Matthew6:

9Praythenlikethis:“OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeyourname.[Yahweh:“IamthatIam”—hisnameissoundslike“Now…andforever”]10Yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,[200yearsfromnow,aftertherapture?—No,that’snotwhatJesusmeans.]10Yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,

onearthasitis[already]inheaven.11Giveusthisdayourdailybread,12andforgiveusourdebts, aswealsohaveforgivenourdebtors.13Andleadusnotintotemptation, butdeliverusfromevil.

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14Forifyouforgiveotherstheirtrespasses,yourheavenlyFatherwillalsoforgiveyou,15butifyoudonotforgiveotherstheirtrespasses,neitherwillyourFatherforgiveyourtrespasses.(ESV)

[Aswetalkedaboutthelastthreetimes,theKingdomisakingdomofforgiveness,forgiventous,inwhichweconstantlygiveorfore-give.AndtheideathatwecouldeverearntheKingdomisaninsaneillusioncalledhell.]

v.16“Andwhenyoufast,donotlookgloomylikethehypocrites,fortheydisfiguretheirfacesthattheirfastingmaybeseenbyothers.Truly,Isaytoyou,theyhavereceivedtheirreward.17Butwhenyoufast,anointyourheadandwashyourface,18thatyourfastingmaynotbeseenbyothersbutbyyourFatherwhoisinsecret.AndyourFatherwhoseesinsecretwillrewardyou.

Wetalkedabouttheseversesseveralweeksagowhenwetalkedaboutthedisciplinesofalmsgiving,prayer,andfasting,andhowdisciplinecanturnintodance.Fastingsimplymeans,“noteating”…andthereareallsortsofreasonsfornoteating.CSLewis,wrote:

Ithinkourpresentoutlookmightbelikethatofasmallboywho,onbeingtoldthatthesexualactwasthehighestbodilypleasureshouldimmediatelyaskwhetheryouatechocolatesatthesametime.Onreceivingtheanswer,"No,"hemightregardabsenceofchocolatesasthechiefcharacteristicofsexuality.Invainwouldyoutellhimthatthereasonwhyloversintheircarnalrapturesdon'tbotheraboutchocolatesisthattheyhavesomethingbettertothinkof.Theboyknowschocolate:hedoesnotknowthepositivethingthatexcludesit.Weareinthesameposition....Hencewherefullnessawaitsus,weanticipatefasting.iii

TosomedisciplesofJohntheBaptist,Jesussaid,“Cantheweddingguestsmournaslongasthebridegroomiswiththem?Thedayswillcomewhenthebridegroomistakenawayfromthem,andthentheywillfast.”It’sinterestingthatJesusequateshisabsencewithfasting.Idon’tknowofanyplacewhereJesuscommandsfasting.Buthedoescommandfeasting,andhehimselfisthefeast.Heisnotthefast,butheisthefeast.AndHesaidtohisdisciples,“Ihavefoodofwhichyoudonotknow.Myfoodistodothewillofhimwhosentme.”Andtothedevil,whilebeingtemptedinthedesert,hesaid“Man—Adam—shallnotlivebybreadalonebutbyeverywordthatproceedsfromthemouthofGod.”Well,JesusistheWordofGodandtheWillofGod.Perhapswecouldbreakouraddictionstofood,sex,wine,andevenchocolatesbyfeastingonhim.ivButifyoufastforsomeotherreason,you’lllikelybecomeaddictedtosomethingfarworsethanchocolates,andthat’syourego.Andproudpeopleneversingalong,andtheymaketerribledancers.

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19“Donotlayup[thesaurizo:treasure(verb)]for[to]yourselvestreasures[thesauros(noun)v]onearth,wheremothandrustdestroyandwherethievesbreakinandsteal,20butlayup[thesaurizo]for[to]yourselvestreasures[thesauros]inheaven,whereneithermothnorrustdestroysandwherethievesdonotbreakinandsteal.21Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.

Jesusissaying,don’tworkandworktoretirehere.However,youcanputtreasureinheaven.Butwhenandwhereisheaven?Well,listencloselytowhatheliterallysays:“Don’ttreasuretreasuretoyourselfonearth…Buttreasuretreasuretoyourselfinheaven.”(It’slikeIhavea“self”inearthanda“self”inheaven!)“…treasuretreasuretoyourselfinheaven.”FortheJews,treasurewasplacedinthetreasury,viwhichwasinthetabernacleortemple—treasurewasthatwhichwasdevotedtoGod,foryoualreadyknewitbelongedtoGod.viiJesustellsusthathisbodyisthetemple,andthenwediscoverthatwearethattemple—"Treasuretreasuretoyourselfinheaven,”saysJesus.SowhereisHeaven?Wellit’scoming:Wejustprayed“ThyKingdomcome.”Andyet,it’shere.Matthew3:2,4:17,and11:20aretheonlytimesMatthewusestheword“repent.”Johncomespreaching,Jesuscomespreaching,andJesustellsthetwelvedisciplestopreachthis:“Repent!(changeyourthinking!)TheKingdomofHeavenisatHand.” And“athand”means“athand.”InLuke17,hesaysthatit’s“inthemidstofy’all,”or“withiny’all.”viiiInMatthew12,Jesussaysthemostamazingthingabout“thetree,”isthatwecanmakeitgoodorbad…andthenhereferstothehumanheartasthetreasury.ix

· So,Heaveniscoming.Heavenisactuallyonajourney,andyetit’salreadyhere.· So,youcouldsay,“Theendiscoming.”It’sonajourney,andyetit’salreadyhere.· So,youmightsay,TheendisTheWay,andTheWayisTheEnd,aswellasTheBeginning…

kindofliketheplottoastoryortherhythmofasong.YouknowthattheJewswereonajourneythroughthewildernesstoapromisedlandthatwasapictureoftheKingdomintheend,aswellastheparadiseofEdeninthebeginning.ButontheJourney,Godhadthembuildatabernaclethatbecamethetemple,whichalsocontainedthetreasury.IntheheartofthetemplewasaninnersanctuarythatcontainedthejudgmentofGodbetweentwocherubim,likethosethatguardedthewaytoEden.ThebookofHebrewstellsusthatitisthepresenceofthecomingage.xSoyousee,theirdestinationwaswiththemtheirentirejourney.Theirdestinationwasliterally“theWay,”andtheywereonajourneytowheretheyare.xi

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Inthetemple,theinnersanctuarywasseparatedfromtheoutersanctuarybyacurtain.WhenwetookJesus’lifeonthetree,andhegavehislifeonthesametree,thatcurtainrippedfromtoptobottom.Scripturesaysthatcurtain,separatingthisagefrometernity,wasChrist’sflesh.xiiDoyourememberwhenJesusrosefromthedead,heappearedtotwodisciplesonajourneytoEmmaus?Ashewalked,heopenedtheScripturestothemandrevealedthathewasalwaysonthejourneywithhispeople.Andasherevealedthesethings,hewashiddentothesetwodisciples,untilhetookbreadandbrokeitandgaveittothem.Andthentheireyeswereopen.IntheRevelation,Johnsees(presenttense—he’stalkingaboutnow)theNewJerusalemcomingdown,butyousee,it’sJerusalem.TheNewhadbeenhiddenin“theold”allalong.It’sshapedlikeatempleandis,infact,abride.Inthemiddleisathrone,andonthethroneisakingwhonowstandsasaslaughteredlamb.

· ThisKingdoesnotconquerasotherkings.· ThisKingconquerswithsacrificiallove.· ThisKingistheheartofourFathermanifestinhumanflesh.

A“kingdom”isthedominionofaking.“Pray…ourFather,thykingdomcome;thywillbedone.”So,whereistheKingdomofHeaven?

Ikeepshowingthistimeline,becausemodernpeople,unlikeancientpeople,justdon’tseemtogetit.TheKingdomofheavenistheSeventhDay,God’spromisedrest,thecomingage,whenandwhere“everythingisgood”and“itisfinished.”Weliveonthistimeline,surroundedbyeternity.Eternityisnotsomuchtimeless,buttime-full.Eternitycontainstimeandfillstime,suchthatwedon’tsitarounddoingnothinginheaven,butwedoeverythinganddoitwithoutfear.Nolongerslavestotime,butmastersoftime.AndIdoubtthatwecouldgetbored,forboredomisafunctionoftime.Andoncewe’verecognizedtheplottothestoryanddiscernedtherhythmofthesong,we’lldiscoverthattheplotissogoodandtherhythmsobeautifulthatwewillnevertireoflistening,andneverexhaustthedepthsofmeaningoneverypageofthestory,thatisinfact,yourlife—whichisChrist’slifegiventoyouandallofus.xiii

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Well,yousee?TheKingdomofGodreallyisathand.It’sallaroundus.It’sallaroundus,justlikeamotherisallaroundthebabyinherwomb.Thekingdomisallaroundus,andevenwithinus,liketheDNAofthefatherandmotherisineverycellofababyinawomb.Spaceandtimearelikeawomb,andweareonajourneythatisourowncreation.WearebornthroughatorncurtainthatistheBodyofChrist,brokenandbleedingforeachofus.

Figure1"MysteryoftheFallandRedemptionofMan"byGiovannidaModena(1420)

Inotherwords,thisisthedoor—thejudgmentofGod.ThisistheBeginningandtheEndandtheWay.ThisisthePlottothestoryandtheLogicofthesong.Atthistree,“theAdam,”thatis“humanity,”wastornapart.Andfromthistree,theKingdescendsintoeverypersonasabreathindust,andthenaWordspokenintothevoidthatisyoursin.Jesusisthe“EschatosAdam.”AndwearehisBody.Atthistree,humanitywastornapart,andatthistreewecomebacktogether.Werisefromatombthatisactuallyawomb,intheverysamegarden—“AsinAdamalldie,soinChristwillallbemadealive.”xivInthewordsofIrenaeus,Jesusrecapitulates,putsbacktogether,unitesunderonehead,anakephalaioo,Adam—thatishumanityxv.Ephesians1:10·The“planforthefullnessoftimetounite,anakephalaioo,allthingsinhim.”Colossians1:20·“...makingpeacebythebloodofhiscross,[histree].”

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OnthelastdayfromthethroneinMatthew25,Jesussays,“Whateveryoudototheleastofthesemybrothers”—(asifhisFatherwas‘ourFather’)—“whateveryoudototheleastofthesemybrothers,youdotome.”Why?Well,because,he’sinthem,hisbodyandhisbride.Heisthetreasureburiedinthedirtyfieldthatisyourbrotherorsister,andhehaspaidthehighestpossiblepricetobuythatfield.Heistheseedburiedinbrokenanddirtygroundthatturnsintoakingdom.Heistheleaveninthebreadthatinfectsthewholeloaf,notwithsin,butrighteousness.HeistheBeginningandtheEnd.HeistheWay,theTruth,andtheLife.HeistheLightoftheworld.HeisthePlotofthestory.HeistheRhythmofthesong.HeistheLogos,theLogicofLovewhoisourCreator.HeistheKingofthekingdom—thereisnogreatertreasure.Heisathand.Andthatmeansyourjourneythroughspaceandtimeisatreasurehunt.Inotherwords,everythingis“wonder-full,”ifonlyyoutrustenoughtoseek.To“seekfirstthekingdom.”

ThisworldmustbelikeoneoftheseHighlights“HiddenPicture”pictures.Remembertheseinthedoctor’sofficewaitingroomwhenyouwereakid?Itlookslikearegularoldpicture;itcouldbeofanything.Butwhateveritwas,itwasusuallyratherboringuntilyoudiscoveredthattherewerepictureshiddeninthepicture,liketreasureinafield,andyougottofindthem.That’sthepoint—thetreasure.Firstthingatthedoctor’soffice,I’dlookforthispage,andifsomeonehadalreadycircledthehiddenpictures,Ifelttotallyviolated,forthejoywasthehuntforthepictureshiddeninthepicture–thetreasure.That’sthepoint.SometimespeoplewonderwhyGoddoesn’tjustrevealeverythingupfrontbutmakesusseek.Maybehewantsustoenjoyatreasurehuntthatisfindingandbeingfound.“Seekfirstthekingdomandallthesethingswillbeaddeduntoyou,”saysJesus.

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It’sironic,butonceyourealizethatthepictureisn’tthepoint,thewholepicturebecomesimportantbecauseithidesthepoint.Thetreesaregreener,everyperson—orteddybear,asinthiscase—ismoreinteresting.“Sally’sSmoothieShop”isnotaboutmakingmoney.It’sabouthiddentreasure—that’sthepoint.Youknow,twopeoplecanhavetheverysamejob,likesellinginsurance.Andonewillbeboredtodeathandlongingtoretire.Andtheotherwillbefilledwithlifeandalwayseagertoanswerthephone,becausethey’relookingfortreasureineveryonetheymeet.xviThislifeislikeaHighlights’“HiddenPicture”picture.Butifyoudon’tknowthat,oryoudon’thavethekey(tothepicture),you’dthinkitwasaboutsellingsmoothiesandmakingmoney.EveryHighlights’“HiddenPicture”picturehadakeyonthesideofthepagethatrevealedthetreasurehiddenineachpicture.[Image:slideof“FallandRedemption”shownpreviously,above.]IfthisworldislikeaHighlights’“HiddenPicture”picture,Ithinkthiswouldbethekeyonthesideofeverypage.This,orthis...[image:Jesushangingonthecross,fromThePassionoftheChrist] ormaybethis...[imagesrotate]

[Image:sameillustrationof“Fallandredemption”shownpreviouslyabove]…[Image:previousstillimageofJesusonthecrossfromPassionoftheChrist]

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Sometimes,whenIcouldn’tfindthepicture,mymomwouldsay,“Here’sasecret,Peter;,turnthepictureupsidedown,andnowlookagain.”Atfirst,thecrosswillseemupsidedown,butturnyourworldupsidedownandlookagain:Thelastarefirst,andthehumbledareexalted.Andlosingyourlifeisfindingit.MaybeourFatherturnsourworldupsidedownnowandthentohelpusfindthetreasure.“InChristarehiddenallthetreasuresofwisdomandknowledge”writesPaul.xviiHe’stheBeautyineverysunrise,TheLifeineveryperson,TheTruthineverystatement,andTheWayfromonemomenttothenext.[Image:previousHighlights’pictureaboveof“ShakeBreak”]Yousee,eachpictureislikeoneframeinamoviethatisyourlife.So,thetreasureisn’tstatic,butdynamic:

· Thetreasureisfillingeachpicture,justasChristisfillingallthings—allofspaceandtime—withhimself.xviii

· Thetreasureisfillingeachpictureandcomingtogether.“[Thisis]theplanforthefullnessoftimetouniteallthingsinhim.”

WhenIwasakid,IlovedtheHighlights’“HiddenPicture”picturesandalsothesecellophanepicturesinourWorldBookEncyclopedia.[PeterholdsupWorldBookencyclopediaandflipsthrough.]Theyillustratehowahumanbodyisputtogether…

· Itstartsoutwiththispictureofboneandtissue.· Thenyouaddsomegutsandabrain…kindofgrosshuh?· Thenyouaddlungsandmoremuscle…

Itwaspublishedin1964,andsostoppedjustshortofskin—Irememberthinking,Dang…‘causemaybethisisawoman!Butdoyouseemypoint?Itstartsoutrathergrossandpainful.Butturnsintoatreasure—aman…orevenbetterawoman.Well,youseethekingdomofheaven,thatisthebodyofChrist,andthebrideofChriststartsoutrathergrossandpainful—likeabodybrokenandbloodshed.Butasitcomestogether,thetreasureisrevealed.Itcomestogetherthroughgracebyfaiththatisforgiveness.AndIhopeyouseethatthehiddenpictureisn’tstatic,butactuallyecstatic,foritcomestogetherindeliriousjoy.It’sthe“EcstaticJoy”thatMichaelFleenordescribedlastweekasheforgavehisenemies,andtheywerealljoinedinandthroughtheBodyofChrist.“...Wehavethistreasureinearthenvessels,”writesPaulin2Corinthians4.ThetreasureisthelightofthegospelofthegloryofGodinthefaceofJesus.

· TheGospelistheStoryofJesuscomingtogether,liketheplottoreality.

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· It’sthelogicofcreation,likethecrescendoofasymphonyas“everycreatureinheavenandonearthandundertheearthandintheseaandallthatiswithinthem”beginstopraisetheOnewhositsonthethrone.

· It’sthemovementofLifethatflowsthroughallofourtemplesofclay,justlikebloodthroughabody,asweallbegintorealizethatnoneofusarealone;Godis“ourFather,”andeverythingisfree.Forgiven.

“Seekfirstthekingdom.”Thatmeans:worshiptheKing.Heiscoming,andyetheisalwaysathand.“Seekandyouwillfind.”xixNextVerse:

22“Theeyeisthelampofthebody.So,ifyoureyeishealthy[haplous:single,sound,purexx],yourwholebodywillbefulloflight,23butifyoureyeisbad,yourwholebodywillbefullofdarkness.Ifthenthelightinyouisdarkness,howgreatisthedarkness!24“Noonecanservetwomasters,foreitherhewillhatetheoneandlovetheother,orhewillbedevotedtotheoneanddespisetheother.YoucannotserveGodandmoney[mammonos:mammon].

“Mammon”doesn’treallymean“money”butpossessions.Sohowisyoureye?[Previousimageshowing,“TheFallandRedemptionofMan”]Likewesaidlasttime,thisis“theGood”andthisis“theLife.”ThisistheGoodineverythingyousee.ThisistheLifeineveryoneyoumeet.ThisistheKingoftheKingdomthatisathand.

So,whatdoyousee?Doyouseesomethingtopossess?Ishepartofyourkingdom?Ordoyouseesomething,orsomeone,towhomyouwouldsurrender,likeaKing?Ifyouseesomethingtopossess,allyourtreasurewillbegintorot,andthethiefwillbreakin,andbegintodestroy.Butifyouseesomeonetowhomyouwouldsurrender,hewillpossesyoulikemusicpossessesadancer,andyouwillbegintodanceandbejoinedbyotherdancers,thatwillturnintoapartyandanentirenewcreation.Jesusdoesn’tbelongtoyou,orthePresbyterians,ortheBaptists,ortheCatholics,ortheChristians.Jesusdoesn’tbelongtoanybodybutGod,andeverybodybelongstoJesus.HeistheKing,andyouarehisKingdom—hisheaven.AndnowIhaveamillionstories,andnomoretime,soI’llendwhereIendedlastweek:Thekingdoesn’tneedyoutodosomething.Thekingwantsyoutoseesomething.Andwhenyouseethatsomething,youwilldoeverything;youwilldance.

Maybethat’swhyyou’reonthisjourney—tomeettheking.

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ThekingisinGeorgeFloyd,andthekingisinDerekChauvin.There’streasureineverymomentofspaceandtime.Itmaybeterrifying,atfirst,tolook…butlookagain.

CommunionJesustookbreadandbrokeitsaying,“Thisismybodygiventoyou.Takeandeat,anddothisinremembranceofme.”Andhetookthecupsaying,“Thisisthecovenantinmyblood,pouredoutfortheforgivenessofsins.Drinkofitallofyou.”So…Whatdoyousee?

• Breadandwine—goodforfoodandadelighttotheeyes?• Knowledgeofgoodandevil,desiredtomakeonewise?• Animportantculturalritual…• Lifelessonstobeappliedtoone’slife…OR

Treasure?“Treasuretreasuretoyourselfinheaven.”[Petertakesandinvitesalltojoinintakingbreadandwine.]Whenyoupartakeyou:1.ConfessthatyouhavetakenthelifeofChristasasinner.And2.YouareannouncingthatyounowreceiveChristasaworshipperoftheKingintheKingdomofHeaven.

BelievetheGospel.Amen.

BenedictionSeveralyearsagoinSomalia,JackKelly,areporterforUSAToday,gaveastarvingboyapieceofgrapefruit.Deadbodieslayallaround.Theboywasravagedbyworms,hisbellydistended,hisskinwrinkled...hecouldbarelystand.Hewasdesperatelyhungry.Theywatchedashetookthefruitandappearedtosaythanks.Hedidnoteatbutbegantowalktowardhisvillage.(Theyfollowedhiminawayhecouldn’tsee.)Whenheenteredhisvillage,thereonthegroundwasalittleboy.Theyfiguredhewasdead.Hiseyeswerecompletelyglazedover.Itturnedoutthatthiswastheboy’syoungerbrother.Theolderbrotherkneltdown,bitoffapieceofgrapefruit,chewedit,thenopeneduphisbrother’smouth,putthegrapefruitin,andworkedhisbrother’sjawupanddown.Theylearnedtheolderbrotherhadbeendoingthisfortwoweeks.Acoupledayslater,theolderbrotherdiedofmalnutrition...andtheyoungerbrotherlived.Sowhatdoyousee?

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Simplyatragedy...oraTreasure?Thatwasn’tsimply,astarvingAfricanboy…ThatwasourBigBrother…ThatwastheKingoftheKingdom…That’smyKing,...andit’sapleasuretoworshipHim.

BelievetheGospel.Amen.

Endnotes iYouknowthateverycatastrophe,createswhatTolkeincalledaeucatastrophe, AcatastrophicgoodthatrevealsthePlot,theLogos,theMeaning.TheMeaningdoesn’tchange,butitchangeseveryeventinthestoryandeveryeventinthestoryrevealsthemeaning.iiSheshouldhavediedhereafter;Therewouldhavebeenatimeforsuchaword.—To-morrow,andto-morrow,andto-morrow,Creepsinthispettypacefromdaytoday,Tothelastsyllableofrecordedtime;AndallouryesterdayshavelightedfoolsThewaytodustydeath.Out,out,briefcandle!Life'sbutawalkingshadow,apoorplayerThatstrutsandfretshishouruponthestageAndthenisheardnomore.ItisataleToldbyanidiot,fullofsoundandfurySignifyingnothing.—Macbeth(Act5,Scene5,lines17-28)iiiC.S.Lewis,Miracles,p.159-160,asquotedinTheQuotableLewis,p.283.ivIsn’titironicthatthegrowthoftheAmericanweightproblemisdirectlyparalleltothegrowthoftheAmericandietindustry?Sothatthemorewetrytodiet,thebiggerweget?Themorewethinkaboutnoteating,themorewedo!ThemoreIthink,“Nodonuts,nodonuts,nodonuts,no!Nosweetdonuts!Nosweet,warm,fresh,KrispyKremedonuts!”thehungrierIgetfordonuts.It’salmostlike“IfinditalawthatwhenIwanttodogood,evilliescloseathand.AndIdon’tunderstandmyownactions,forIdonotdowhatIwant,butIdotheverythingIhate.”Youknow,thedietindustryandthereligionindustryhavealotincommon...Well,theNewTestamentseemstobereallyambivalentaboutdietsandfasting.Colossians2:20:Whydoyousubmittoregulations,“Donothandle,Donottaste,Donottouch”(referringtothingswhichallperishastheyareused),accordingtohumanpreceptsanddoctrines?Thesehaveindeedanappearanceofwisdominpromotingrigorofdevotionandself-abasementandseveritytothebody,buttheyareofnovalueincheckingtheindulgenceoftheflesh.That’sthebaddieter’slifeverse!Andwe’reallbaddieters.Ifyouwon’tadmitit,you’retheworst.Youknow,Paultaughtthatthere’s,like,thispowerinadietorlawtoinspirenotdoingit.Lawproducesdisobedience,shame,andaddiction.Well,folksdofastintheNewTestament,butneverasalaw.UsuallywhenIfast,Imostlyjustthinkaboutfood...orworse,myself.Ireallylikedonuts,butIhaveafarmoredangerousaddictionthanthat.I’maddictedtoapproval.Somefolkstreasurefood,andsometreasureapproval.Ifyoubeatyouraddictiontofoodwithyouraddictiontoapproval,you’reevenmoreaddicted.Mostpeopledietinordertolookgood,whichisexactlywhythePhariseesfasted:tolookgood(notphysically,butreligiously).Andweallfast,ifnotvoluntarily,involuntarily.Weallsufferloss.Wealldowithoutattimes,sowe’realltemptedtouseourfastingtogetpoweroverothersandfeedourego.Thatis,weusesufferinginordertogetsympathyandrespect.It’sasweettreasure,butsoonitrotsandturnssourvThisiswherewegetourword“thesaurus.”Athesaurusisatreasurythatstoresmeaning.Likewiseastoryisastorehousethatstoresmeaning.Jesusisthemeaning(logos)andthetreasure.

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vi1Theysaidtohimtherefore,“WhereisyourFather?”Jesusanswered,“YouknowneithermenormyFather.Ifyouknewme,youwouldknowmyFatheralso.”Thesewordshespokeinthetreasury,ashetaughtinthetemple;butnoonearrestedhim,becausehishourhadnotyetcome.–John8:19-20“…outoftheabundanceoftheheartthemouthspeaks.35Thegoodpersonoutofhisgoodtreasure(or“treasury”)bringsforthgood,andtheevilpersonoutofhiseviltreasure(or“treasury”)bringsforthevil.–Matthew12:34-35viiThisisutterlyfascinatingwhenyourealizethat“devotedthings”(herem)includedpeopleliketheCanaanites.GoldandSilverwastobeplacedinthetreasuryofthetempleandCanaaniteswereslaughteredashumansacrifice.WemistakenlythinkthatGodhateswhatissacrificedandforgetthatJesusistheultimatesacrifice.TobedevotedtoGodistopresentyourselfalivingsacrifice.viiiBeingaskedbythePhariseeswhenthekingdomofGodwouldcome,heansweredthem,“ThekingdomofGodisnotcominginwaysthatcanbeobserved,norwilltheysay,‘Look,hereitis!’or‘There!’forbehold,thekingdomofGodisinthemidstofyou.”-Luke17:20-21ESV,(“thekingdomofGodiswithinyou.”NKJV)ix“Eithermakethetreegoodanditsfruitgood,ormakethetreebadanditsfruitbad,forthetreeisknownbyitsfruit.34Youbroodofvipers!Howcanyouspeakgood,whenyouareevil?Foroutoftheabundanceoftheheartthemouthspeaks.35Thegoodpersonoutofhisgoodtreasure(or“treasury”)bringsforthgood,andtheevilpersonoutofhiseviltreasure(or“treasury”)bringsforthevil.36Itellyou,onthedayofjudgmentpeoplewillgiveaccountforeverycarelesswordtheyspeak,37forbyyourwordsyouwillbejustified,andbyyourwordsyouwillbecondemned.”–Matthew12:33-37xSeeHebrews9:9xiRememberthepillaroffireandsmoke,thatwouldrestovertheArk,wouldgobeforethemandshowthemtheway—itwas“theAngelofYahweh,”JesusourLord.xiiHebrews10:20xiiiWe’llendlesslyshareourlifewitheveryotherlife,whichisChrist’slife.xiv1Corinthians15:22xvHehastherefore,inHisworkofrecapitulation,summedupallthings,bothwagingwaragainstourenemy,andcrushinghimwhohadatthebeginningledusawaycaptivesinAdam...theenemywouldnothavebeenfairlyvanquished,unlessithadbeenaman[born]ofwomanwhoconqueredhim....AndthereforedoestheLordprofessHimselftobetheSonofman,comprisinginHimselfthatoriginalmanoutofwhomthewomanwasfashioned,inorderthat,asourspecieswentdowntodeaththroughavanquishedman,sowemayascendtolifeagainthroughavictoriousone;andasthroughamandeathreceivedthepalm[ofvictory]againstus,soagainbyamanwemayreceivethepalmagainstdeath-Irenaeus,AgainstHeresies5.21.1inA.RobertsandJ.Donaldson(eds),TheWritingsofIrenaeusVol.2(Edinburgh:T&TClark,1869),p.110-111xviYoumayworkforthisemployerorthatemployer…ButyouonlyDanceforJesus.Whatifhewerehiddenineveryoneyoumeet?xviiColossians2:3xviiiEphesians1:23,4:10,1Corinthians15:28xixBaxterKrugerrecentlystated,“We’renotmovingfromabsencetopresence,butfrompresencetorevelation.”xxIreadsomewhere,“It’sthepureinheartthatseeGod,forthey’retheonlyonesthatwantto.”