Expedition Known

When you own something that is precious to you, there is a tendency to want to protect that valuable thing. There are people who devote their lives to looking for treasure, either in the ocean or under the earth. Expedition Unknown is a very popular TV series that features Josh Gates looking for treasure, but usually he comes up empty during the search and invites viewers to the next episode for another great adventure to find the "unknown."

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul writes to the church of Corinth and tells them of the valuable treasure they now have in Jesus, and it is salvation. 2 Corinthians 4: ⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Our expedition unknown is no longer unknown when we find Jesus, and when we are born again, our search is over because we have not only received salvation, but great power from God to live this life He has called us to live. We have not searched for true peace and perfect salvation, just to come up empty. We have found and received the treasure, and now we must protect it!! We are not protecting it because of our fear of losing it, but we value the power received from this great treasure, and it becomes the foundation for living this life of faith and purpose.

Paul speaks to the reality of protecting this treasure, as he writes in verse ⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. We do have to live in a lost and dying world that is totally against Jesus and the gospel message, but we don't just quit at the first sign of trouble, because we realize there is true power for abundant life living in these fragile clay jars. Jesus promised a life of abundance in John 10:⁹ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

The "thief" is all about keeping our search for treasure incomplete and empty, but God not only shows us the treasure, but He protects this treasure and shows us how to live in the power of His grace. We get knocked down, but we get back up!! We have doubts, and God's word fills the space with His perfect truth. We have people turn their backs on us, but God never leaves us or forsakes us.

I finally got to the point after my knee replacement surgery where I felt like getting back in the flow of life, and God gave me a Word that only He could give me today. As I am recovering, I am realizing that having to sit and heal gives my heart and brain and chance to understand and value this great treasure that has been given to me by a loving God. God is good, and as I begin to walk again, I realize the value of His healing power, and I am experiencing it first-hand. I have also had the help of the best helpmate in the world, my wife Andra, and God has blessed me with her unfailing love and care for me. I may have a new artificial knee, but the treasure God put in me is still there and growing. Praise God!!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren