Immortal Treasure

Jesus always cuts to the quick in conversation; we can beat around the bush all we want be he knows our hearts before we open our mouths. There are no secrets or lies God doesn't see through immediately. There are no ill conceived plans or unforeseen consequences for God. As we listen to Jesus talk about money and treasure and all the things people strive for in this life (Luke 12:29) we hear a wonderful call to freedom in Christ.

Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:31-34 (NRSV)

Where your treasure is:
God has a way of seeing the world as it is--and God often see things opposite of how we see them. No sin is unseen to God--and no good deed is unnoticed. No injustice unnoted and no attempt to make things right goes unnoticed either. The ancient prophet Isaiah spoke on God's behalf plainly,

learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:17-18 ESV

God the maker of all things sees us all as sinners--sinners who could be redeemed. It is through the law that we see the crimson red of our sin us mortals who could be lost in sin--and Jesus sees the immortal you worth saving at the cost of his own life.

Who treasures you
One of the greatest and most wonderful parts of the Christian faith and life is knowing both our sin and our value to God our creator. Our value is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote at the end of the poem, That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the comfort of the Resurrection,

I am all at once what Christ is, ' since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, ' patch, matchwood, immortal diamond,
Is immortal diamond.

There is one in the universe who sees each sinner not as waste but as a creation of eternal value. There is one, God almighty, who's mercy revealed in the Cross tells us plainly that we were originally made as creatures of eternal worth. We were made with immortal souls by an immortal God. We were redeemed at the cost of Christ's own life. And the great gift to us in the middle of life is the promise of simple faith in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews understood so very well this gift when he wrote of faith simply,

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

For the gift of faith that clings to God's love and mercy, I give thanks.
Peace and thanks for reading, John