Matthew 13:44 Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Bible is a massive record of history. There is the history of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the antediluvian world, the period of the patriarchs, the nation of Israel, the life of Jesus Christ, the Early Apostolic Church, and the prophecies concerning futuristic history. The Bible is a vast field of history, but like the parable in our text there is a treasure hidden in it. The fact that it says that a man, and not men, found the treasure indicates that the number of Christians who find the treasure are very few.
The treasure in the historical field of the Bible is the divine life of the Lord. His presence is available to anyone that is able to find the treasure. However, it is not enough to merely find it. We must also learn how to partake of it. Peter confirms this in the fourth verse of his second epistle. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature. II Peter 1:4. Notice that he says “that you might be partakers of the divine nature.” The divine nature is not going to jump out of the Scriptures into you. You will have to appropriate it, and that with great price. You don’t really know your adamic flesh-nature until you start trying to appropriate the life of the Lord. It will become your greatest enemy. You will experience a tremendous resistance to your appropriation of the Lord, and that resistance will be in you. Can you sell all to buy that field with the treasure, meaning are you able to give up everything you possess – materially, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually – and let Jesus Christ be the Lord over you?
When you set your heart to walk with God, you will find such a field many times. As you grow in your relationship with the Lord, you will pass through many levels, for we are changed into His image from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18). Regardless of your present level of spiritual maturity, there is a higher level just ahead of you with a greater treasure, for it holds a more precious relationship with the Lord. And, again, you will be challenged to forsake all and to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Notice that the word “treasures” is in the plural. We are changed from glory to glory and from treasure to treasure. Each glory and each treasure is a level of spirit where certain characteristics of the Lord’s life are available, and at each level we must appropriate that which is available of His nature. This is a mystery. It is the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Most Bible readers only see the history. They see the field but not the treasure in the field. Occasionally, though, a man will find the treasure and will sell all to buy that field. That man has chosen the mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory. If you haven’t found the treasure yet, then pray for God to reveal it to you. If you have found the treasure, then have faith for God to reveal the treasure on the next level. The mystery of Christ in you is from treasure to treasure.
Copyright © 2002 by Henry DuBose