THE BELIEVER’S TREASURE
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2
Corinthians 4:7
The child of God, by God’s grace, is different than those who do not
know Christ. Every person is an earthen vessel, but the believer has
a treasure which the unbeliever does not have, and this makes the difference.
God has given His people this treasure (we do not have it by nature)
that He may receive the glory and not us. This treasure is a gift of
God to poor sinners who are undeserving and powerless. In our text and
context let us consider a threefold treasure which, I believe, comprises
the whole of the believer’s life in this world. The first, without which
there would be nothing else, is CHRIST. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
greatest treasure that one could have. Every thing else is but dung
compared to Him. To have Christ is to have every thing- “But of Him
are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption” 1Corinthians
1:30. One could have all of this worlds goods, but without Christ
we would have nothing - “…Christ is all, and in all” Colossians
3:11. The believer’s great treasure in this world is the GOSPEL
OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The gospel is the record that God has
given to His people concerning His Son and their redemption in Him.
The gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God.
The child of God treasures the gospel more than any thing in the world
because it speaks of He Who is altogether lovely. He who has the gospel
has the greatest of treasures and would dare to die than part with it.
The desire and treasure of the believing heart is to hear the gospel
of Christ proclaimed. The hearing of the gospel to the believer
is the great joy and rejoicing of his heart. To hear the Lord Jesus
Christ proclaimed in truth is a treasure from God of which the believing
sinner cannot live without. Those who can live in this world without
consistently hearing the preaching of the gospel live in this world
without Christ - “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore
hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John
8:47 . We have this treasure because God, in His sovereign grace
and mercy is pleased that we have it. The excellency of the power of
God is Christ and He is revealed in the preaching of the gospel to chosen
earthen vessels, which is - “…the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth…” Romans 1:16.
Tommy
Every day that the elect of God lives upon this earth
is a illustrious display of God’s sovereign mercy and grace. Whatever
comes our way is from His loving hand of compassion and pity. No matter
what it is that we experience, joy and gladness or pain and suffering,
it is good because our good God has purposed it to be good for us, and
that it will be. Every thing that is a blessing to the child of God
is a curse to the unbelieving. Every Spiritual blessing, - “Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Eph 1:3,
and every temporal blessing, - “In every thing give thanks: for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1Th 5:18, comes to
His people through and by the person and work of our Redeemer, the Lord
Jesus Christ. The physical bread that we enjoy, as well as the Spiritual
Bread that we feast upon is from His hand. The making of the clothes
for our backs as well as the everlasting righteousness by and in which
we are accepted before God is all His doing. Therefore, “I will praise
Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name
for evermore” Psalms 86:12.
Tommy
