When you were a small child, did you ever dream of being a treasure hunter?  Of being that lucky individual who would find the elusive treasure map, follow the trail, and claim a chest full of gold coins, jewelry, or other valuables.  I’m sure many of us would like to strike it rich, whether it is through the good fortune of finding a lost treasure, winning a cash prize, or receiving a large sum from a lucrative donor.  But for the vast majority, the odds of our finances skyrocketing to new heights are quite slim.  Nevertheless, there are treasures awaiting us if we just take the time to look for them.  God’s Creation is full of awesome wonders that reveal His love for us in the most unlikely ways.

Think about the sand dollar.  Have you ever swum down to the bottom of the ocean and pulled one of these unique sea urchins up to the surface?  Or maybe you found the dried skeleton of one of these creatures on the shore.  Have you ever looked inside one of these magnificent works of art?  God, in His infinite wisdom, designed this creature so that it could breathe through pores that are arranged in a petal-like pattern.  He also gave it spines, so it could move about the seabed.  Perhaps the greatest feature of an sand dollar is the Aristotle’s lantern inside that functions as the sand dollar’s teeth.  For these amazing objects are shaped like tiny little doves.  Imagine...inside one of God’s intricate sea creatures, He placed miniature replicas of one of His beautiful birds of the air.  Surely this was not an accident, but instead, it was part of His divine plan.


Did you know that doves mate for life?  A female or male dove will not search for a second mate until the first one is no longer living.  They also cooperate and work together to build the nest for their young.  They are the true epitome of loyalty and devotion to one another.  Jesus told His disciples to emulate their behavior when he told them to be “innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NIV).  Even God trusted a dove to bring the olive branch back to Noah to let him and his family know that the waters had receded and that it was safe to return to the land.  Without doubt, this special species is a symbol of peace and is a treasure in the sky.  God trusted a dove with an important task, but I have a question for you and me.  Can He trust us?  Do we follow His guidance as the dove did after the flood?  Or do we whine and complain when He tells us what we should do?  Sometimes, it is easier to follow a treasure map than to blaze an uncharted trail as we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.  Inevitably, though, it is through devotion to God that we will find genuine and enduring treasure.

Some people spend their whole entire lives looking for treasure, or searching for fame and fortune.  In the end, what truly matters is what we have done for the cause of Christ.  The things we accumulate in this world will not last.  Although many people have tried through the centuries, you cannot take anything with you when you leave this world and enter into Heaven or Hell.  Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) says, “‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”  You see, friends, you and I need to focus on the important things in life that will have eternal value.  These are the things that will last.  Instead of worrying about the kind of car we drive, the clothes we wear, or the food we eat, we need to focus on what we can do to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet.  The Bible says that our Heavenly Father knows our basic needs and that He will supply them (Matthew 6:32).  He knows our needs before we even ask.

What about you?  Are you tired of searching for a treasure that you cannot seem to find?  I don’t know what you may be going through in your life at this very moment, but I can tell you that I am 100% certain that Jesus Christ knows exactly what struggles you face.  He knows if you are dealing with financial burdens, physical or emotional battles, or something so difficult that you cannot even put it into words.  Just like He will provide for the sand dollars of the sea and the doves of the air, He will provide for you.  He knows your heart.  He knows if you are hurting.  Jesus Christ loves you so much that He gave His life for you (see John 3:16).  Call on the name of Jesus Christ today.  For the greatest treasure that any man can ever hold on this earth is not a chest full of gold, but the priceless knowledge that they have a personal relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer