One of the things we discovered upon arriving in Winnipeg, the capital city of Manitoba, Canada, was that this city hosts one of the country’s two national mints. Upon touring the facility, we were amazed to learn that not only it is the only Canadian mint to produce circulation coinage, but it also produces coinage for several other countries as well. But the thing that really surprised us was how high the security is in such a facility. None of the employees could sneak out even a single penny without being detected!

My attention was especially drawn to a guard who stood over a bar of real gold. The bar was attached to the floor with a heavy chain, and in the presence of the guard, the general public was invited to lift the gold and feel its weight. I had to wonder how anyone (including spinach eating athletes!) could steal that gold bar in such conditions! Nevertheless, no chances were being taken, and sole responsibility of this particular guard was to keep a watchful eye on the gold bar. He even had to watch over it when there was no one else around!

I tried to imagine myself in the guard’s shoes. A man in such a position couldn’t be making very much money, and if he is like most of the other Canadians we know (ourselves included!), he likely has trouble making ends meet. Yet his job is to guard a treasure worth over $300,000.00. He can touch it, he can lift it, he can smell it, he can even lick it if he so desires (was that the goo I felt on the bar?); but the one thing he cannot do is take it home!

Imagine having to watch people lift such a treasure all day long. They don’t do so because it is fun, and not even because it results in a great physical workout. They do so simply because it is so valuable. You know that all of your financial woes would be brought to an abrupt end if only that gold bar were yours. And why shouldn’t it be yours? Aren’t you the one who has faithfully guarded it ever since it was brought to Winnipeg? Aren’t you the one who treats it like your own son? Aren’t you the one who is always there for the gold bar? Why doesn’t your boss give it to you as a gift for outstanding, faithful work?

But no, day in and day out, the only thing you can do is to stare at that gold bar and make sure no one steals it. After all, you know that your job would surely be on the line if it were stolen. There would be no reason to have a guard watch over the chain that a bar of gold had once been attached to! The chain has no value without the gold bar, nor do you have any value without having the gold to guard.

Likewise, so many people are attentively watching over the most priceless treasure in the universe. There is a difference between this treasure and the gold bar, however: this treasure CAN be yours. The only problem? Most people neglect to claim it as their own!

What treasure am I talking about? “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.” (Matt 13:44 NIV)

And what does Jesus mean when He says, “kingdom of heaven”? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matt 4:17 NIV)

The kingdom of heaven has to do with our attitude towards God. Is He real to us? Have we invited Him to be part of our lives? Have we made Jesus Lord over our lives?

Friends, there is a great difference between accepting Jesus as our Savior and placing Him as Lord over our lives: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46 NIV) We may accept Jesus as our Savior, but unless we give Jesus complete reign, we lead worthless lives. We can attend church weekly, we can even do wonderful endeavors for God, but if we are not in the center of God’s will, our efforts are worthless. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21 NIV); and “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (Matt 7:22-23 NIV)

How sad to spend life admiring a treasure, but never making it our own, especially if the treasure is as priceless as Jesus. We may watch Him, we may touch, smell and lick Him (Yuck, poor Jesus!), but if we don’t make Him our own, we will never taste life to the fullest, for He says: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)

You may be an attentive guard, but don’t simply admire the treasure. Develop a relationship with Him! Get to know Him! Make Him Lord over your life! Stop building biceps by lifting the treasure up and down. Instead, become eternally wealthy by letting Jesus be Lord over your lives.

Rob Chaffart