Rays of Light

Several years ago a friend and I were pondering what the ancient Israelites looked like. What did they wear? Did the men use head coverings? What about their hair and beards? I suggested that we go back three or four thousand years and look at the newspapers and photographs.
Of course I had to explain that what I really meant by that light-hearted metaphor is that some of those answers can be found in archaeology.

It took a very long time, but I was finally able to put together a pictorial portfolio comprised of images from antiquity. The search was tedious and difficult but very enlightening in the end; well worth the effort.

I would probably never have seen an image of the ancient Israelite, though, had it not been for the labors of thousands of archaeologists who painstakingly combed every square inch of the ancient historical sites and dug the answers out of the ground inch by inch.

That’s why I love archaeology so much. With a little digging, we can view the day-to-day lives of the ancients as though they stepped right out of the pages of history. There are museums in every country of the world housing a variety of artifacts that chronicle ancient history, yet we have probably not even scratched the surface of the vast store of treasure still buried.

If ever I could, I would love to participate in a dig- especially in the area of ancient Mesopotamia. This might not ever happen, but I suppose that’s okay since I am on a far greater treasure hunt anyway; one which spans 6,000 years of human history and beyond.

Listen to what the Word of God said about the kingdom of heaven:

… the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.(Matthew 13:44)

Notice that the kingdom of heaven, at least the knowledge pertaining to it, is “hidden.” Where? It is hidden within the pages of the Holy Bible. But the good news is that anyone who diligently searches for it can find it.

There is no greater treasure that may be found in this earth than that of God’s Kingdom. With that kingdom, however comes great responsibility and it is absolutely imperative that we seek God’s wisdom in order to fully comprehend it. Again Scripture says:

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness… They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (Proverbs 8:8-11)

Seeking God’s wisdom as well as understanding the pages of Scripture is a life-long endeavor, but oh the treasures we will find there!

It never ceases to amaze me that archaeologists will sometimes devote their entire lifetimes unearthing one buried city or searching for sites long forgotten. They will in their great devotion work with little more than a trowel and a brush in the grueling heat day after day, year after year. And yet I, to my shame, sometimes find it hard to spend an hour a day in God’s word. Forgive me Lord.

I pray that I may become a great treasure hunter. And I pray for patience as I search through God’s Word to find the hidden riches there. If archaeologists can continue to work at unearthing Pompeii for more than two hundred years (with a third of the city still yet to be cleared); then surely I can devote more of my time searching for the greatest treasure that can ever be found; one that will last for an eternity without decay.

After all, the Lord God instructed us: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21)

My heart is with God and my desire is for His kingdom; I’m sure yours is too. Can you dig it?