Seeking The Ultimate Treasure
and finding It a Free Gift
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© August 21, 2016
Invitation for the Thirsty
Key Passage today:
Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Hazards, when Seeking Treasures in Life
We have recently seen the golden triumphs of athletes on the winning side, and the bitter tears on the loosing side, who either won glory, or miserably failed to win their coveted event.
~ What in life is worthy of such intense focus and absolute dedication?
We have also recently observed the continuing tragedies of both horrific fire and flood, which have obliterated all of the earthly possessions of the families so affected.
~ How quickly can all our life’s dreams be wiped away?
We consistently hear of the death of prominent individuals whose living spirit has been taken from this earth, because of illness, accident or old age – irrespective of their status, wealth or abilities.
~ What treasure in life is worth seeking, and living one’s life for?
The Scripture speaks of “Treasures”, but calls these “Treasures in Heaven”.
Matthew 6:19–20
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
What are Heaven’s “Treasures”?
What are these eternal treasures and how can we transient, temporary and dying human occupants of earth ever obtain eternal treasures? Is the search for these “treasures” the very reason why the vast majority of we mortals – some 84% of the accessible 7+ billion people spread all over the earth today, are recorded in religious polls, as seeking some form of spiritual understanding and benefit? It seems the modern media would like us to believe 84% of the world is atheist, but instead, one-third of the world (some 2 Billion people) is recorded as being Christian.[1]
Everyone, down deep, seeks enduring treasure….
Why do so many – now, and in every generation and society in recorded history, seek a religious experience?
This Search for Eternal Treasures is the reason why we come to church.
I believe there are at least three analogies to the Treasures in Heaven that are spoken of in the New Testament. Jesus spoke of the extreme value of these treasures in His parables regarding the Kingdom of Heaven:
Extreme Value is Sought Diligently: Jesus Gave Two Examples
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•The parable of a treasure found hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44)
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•The parable of a merchant, obtaining a prize Pearl (Matt. 13:45–46)
All of a person’s possessions cannot replicate the value of Heaven’s Treasure…of course “treasure” is only “seen in the eye of the beholder,” that is why only those who “see” treasure are willing to risk the cost of their life and assets, to pursue and obtain such rare and beneficial treasure.
Matthew 13:44–46
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
What does it take for human beings to see the unparalleled value of Heaven’s Treasures?
Quite often our understanding of heavenly value requires our acknowledgment of how temporal and uncertain life is.
· Fire, flood, disaster, fraud, injustice and misuse so easily consume the value of human assets.
· Disease, frailty, death and decay consume the body.
We might comprehend heavenly value when we begin to understand that we are transients here on earth who will take nothing with us into eternity…nothing but our eternal soul and spirit.
This may be when we begin seeing the honest value of Treasure in Heaven.
It doesn’t matter how earnestly some believe or fervently scream, “God, you are not there!” when the Day of the Lord rises. At that time, either at death, or in the appointed future, everyone will see God, Face to face.
Daniel 12:1–3
12 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
“Water”
· The third analogy of “treasure” discussed today is not specifically called a “treasure” in the Bible, but it is the closest earthly association to what the eternal treasure actually is! It is the analogy of water:
Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
We know that water is one of the most important essentials of life, both for ourselves and for our planet.
Water is essential for our Human Body
The amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75%. The average adult human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%. The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age.[2]
Water is essential for the Earth
The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water.
Water is never sitting still. Thanks to the water cycle, our planet's water supply is constantly moving from one place to another and from one form to another. Things would get pretty stale without the water cycle![3]
How can “Water” be an ultimate Treasure?
Jesus speaks of “Living Water” to the Woman at the Well
Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman drawing water at the well, and asks her for a drink. She was confounded that a Jewish man would ask her, a Samaritan woman, for anything. Then Jesus really confused her by declaring that He was able to give “Living Water” which would completely satisfy, and deliver one from thirst… (spiritual thirst), because, once given, His Living Water would never need to be renewed but become its own spring welling up to eternal life!
John 4:13–14
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus Reveals the Person and Power in the Spiritual Dynamic of “Living Water”
Jesus once again speaks of the living water He can give to the “thirsty” who believe in Him. Jesus explains further that the source of this “Living Water” is the Holy Spirit, who would be given after His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and glorification before His Father. The Holy Spirit would come at Pentecost to indwell those who would be born again.
John 7:37–39
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
There is something profoundly dynamic about the transformation that a person experiences when they are truly born into the Family of God, through redemptive Salvation by the Blood of Jesus Christ and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Proclaims the Treasure of Living Water, to us, through the Apostle John in the final book in the Bible – a reiteration of Isaiah’s prophetic proclamation hundreds of years earlier
Revelation 21:6
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
What are the themes that rise from God’s revelation of the “Water of Life”?
· This water is for the thirsty.
~ “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters”… (Is. 55:1a)
~ “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” … (John 4:14a)
~ “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink”… (John 7:37b)
~ “To him who is thirsty I will give to drink”… (Rev. 21:6b)
Who is Jesus speaking of, whom He calls “thirsty”?
Definition: To be thirsty (διψάω from John 7:37)
“Figuratively, those who are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened.”[4]
If we begin by knowing why Jesus came to earth in the first place, it would give us the initial understanding of the underlying Spiritual need of the “thirsty”.
Luke 5:31–32
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
John 3:17
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Isaiah 53:5–6
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Matthew 1:21
21 She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 Timothy 1:15
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 2:6
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
1 John 2:2
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 3:5
5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
After reviewing these verses, what is the reason the Bible gives for Jesus’ coming to earth?
If Jesus Christ came to earth to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of those in the world, then a primary reason for spiritual thirst throughout the world is the universal need for spiritual redemption.
Thirst for Spiritual Life can be sought from any spiritual source – which can be from God or from evil dominions.
Isaiah 55
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.”
The Prophet Isaiah, some seven hundred years before Christ, prophetically identifies the Keys to God’s Plan of Salvation for sinful humanity, found in God’s Son, Jesus Christ’s atoning Sacrifice.
The Invitation
· “Come” (Is. 55:1)
John 7:37
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”
Those who are Invited
· “All who are thirsty” (Is. 55:1)
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The Obvious Problem
· Humankind’s total inability to obtain this Ultimate Treasure and its benefits on their own.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The Identification of the Place of the Treasure
· “Come to the waters” (Is. 55:1)
John 7:37–38
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
This Treasure is a Free Gift:
· “You who have no money, come, buy and eat!” (Is. 55:1)
o It is available to all who seek it.
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•The unworthy sinner
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•The heartbroken
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•The weak
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•The destitute
o No one can earn it. It is too precious. Only the sinless Christ, the Son of the Living God, can provide the legitimate and atoning Sacrifice for our sins. That was His purpose for coming to the earth!
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 3:4–7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
John 4:10
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Acts 1:4
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Over 2,700 year ago a prophet of God heard the voice of the Living God and he spoke about an invitation for a Treasure that would be offered to the world.
Isaiah had written the clearest picture of the Sacrificial Son of God bearing the sins of the world on Himself in chapter 53. Now in chapter 55, Isaiah prophesied an invitation to accept the free gift. Seven hundred year later, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would come to offer Himself as the atoning Sacrifice for our sins. Today, we are continuing the invitation for those who would hear God’s Voice, to call on Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer. Those who do so will have atonement for their sins, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and have eternal life!
Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat…
without money and without cost.”
[2] http://chemistry.about.com/od/waterchemistry/f/How-Much-Of-Your-Body-Is-Water.htm
[3] http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
[4] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.