Pastor's Column 8/11/2024

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT

“Rediscovering The Treasure” 

The New Living Translation explains, there is a great light in us, but we are fragile like clay jars. This makes it clear: the treasure is not ours but is from God. We humans can accomplish many extraordinary things – but the imperfection of our human nature only remind us of what God places in us, has the greater value. The mortal houses we live in are fragile, but God deposits in us the imperishable gift of His presence and word. Although the Scripture is “breathed” (given) by God, its communication was entrusted to human writers, who were divinely led. The various translations of the Word cannot supplant nor render invalid the intended message of the Word. This treasure will survive in the container that holds it. Paul, as he often does, uses the images popular in his day to illustrate his point. Important documents were placed in used clay jars to protect the contents from theft and the elements. The chipped, unattractive containers gave no clue of how valuable the contents were. Many centuries later, archeologists rediscovered the invaluable parchments that were neatly rolled in broken clay jars. The contents survived the container that held it. What Christ has deposited in us is a treasure that will live beyond these clay containers we live in. God’s treasures are worth rediscovering. Around 1947-48 an assistant working for an archaeologist stumbled upon 11 caves in the northwest area of the Dead Sea. What was discovered shook the Biblical world. In the dark, cold crevices of the caves were found numerous cracked clay jars. The many jars were unimpressive, but they contained about 100,000 manuscripts which had perfectly written copies of nearly all the Old Testament Hebrew Bible. This remarkable discovery dates back two thousand years. Then and now, it has been hailed as a great treasure and contribution to the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. God places in us, what can be rediscovered and preserved to the glory of His name, and for the blessed fruition of our lives!