Treasure Hunting - By Andy Cater

One spring day, I was enjoying a walk near my home.  I live in an area that is not too city-like, with some vineyards and grazing land nearby, and a tree-lined lane just down the street.  As I walked along the road, I was spending time with God.  It was a time when I was going through some difficult things and was seeking God.  I was feeling distant from Him and truly wondering if He was with me – I needed some convincing that he loved me.  I remember thinking that it sure would be nice to have something tangible to remind me of how much God loves me.  I thought of a good friend of mine who had this special thing with God.  Every time she sees geese honking and flying overhead, it reminds her of how much God loves her.  As a child, God had given this to her as a sign of his love.  I felt envious that she had this constant reminder and I didn’t have anything myself.

While on my walk that day I looked down and saw a small nut on the ground.  Normally, as I take walks, I enjoy being like a small child, looking for treasures – old pennies, rocks, bottle caps, whatever.  I saw the outside of this nut and something urged me to reach down and pick it up.  When I picked it up and turned it over there it was!  A heart – formed out of the nut – as clear as could be.  It was a surprise but I knew instantly that this was no accident.  This was God’s sign to me – saying, “I love you, Andy.  I love you!” 

My first thought was to try to find more nuts.  I looked all around, but found no other “heartnuts”.  I thought it was strange but also exhilarating.  God had placed this special heart inside a nut and put it on the ground for me to find – it was amazing!

I was very moved and raced home to show Denise, my wife.  It was a great experience to be convinced by a little nut of God’s love for me.

I’m so thankful that God sees right through my doubts and insecurities and reaches me right where I am.  He knew that I needed some convincing on that day.  And even though he assures me of his love every time I think of the cross, he knows that I sometimes need a little more.  Sometimes I need a treasure to hold.

This reminds me of two parables that Jesus told, found in the book of Matthew.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a 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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Mt 13:44-46 NIV

For many years I have read these parables and come away with the same conclusion about the meaning.  Namely, that I (we) are the seekers of the treasure, as in my experience with my heartnut.  We find the treasure (in God, Christ) and we must then be willing to sell everything to make a transaction to fully receive/enjoy this treasure.  It’s a widespread interpretation and fits with some of Jesus’s other words to the rich young ruler and others.  It all makes sense.

Although widespread, it always made me uneasy.  First of all, I don’t think that I really found God – I think that He found me.  I didn’t go on a quest to find Him.  He actually came right to me, through the witness of my older brother, and I accepted Him.  Second, what was it that I could sell of my own that I could use to buy my salvation?  I didn’t have much.  Nothing I could trade would ever make the transaction work.  Third, if it involves me giving up stuff (like I Surrender All), then how much do I have to give up and when is it enough?  When am I assured that the transaction has taken place and I do indeed have the treasure in my possession?  All these questions bothered me and left me feeling that I have to do something to enjoy the treasure of the gospel – which really is counter to the meaning of gospel (good news) because that isn’t good news at all.

Then I read Dr. J. Vernon McGee, a pastor and commentator, who opened up my thinking to the idea that we are not the main characters of this story at all.  Jesus is!  It’s not all about me, its all about Him!  He is the one that seeks out treasure.  We are the treasure.  Jesus gave up all he had (heaven – Phil 2:7) and “made himself nothing” and “humbled himself” to save us.  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”   We were buried in our sins (Eph 2), dead in our trespasses, and he unearthed us and brought us to a place of prominence.  He saw the value in us that others didn’t.  He felt that we were so valuable that he gave up everything to redeem or purchase us.  And He did it with joy.  We have value even when buried in the ground or lost, but our value is not fully realized until the seeker finds us.  It is then that we give glory, not to ourselves, but ultimately to the one who owns us, Jesus.  He says that we have more value than inanimate objects, we are his children, cared for and loved by our Father.

That’s what the kingdom of heaven is like.  Not a transaction that I make happen, but a glorious picture of God’s view of each of us, as a treasure, for which He would and did give up everything - to have and hold for eternity.

Since that walk, I have found “heartnuts” all over the place.  As I've walked the beach several times, (my favorite place to get away and be with God), I've looked down and there they were – more heartnuts!  I've gone for walks in the church parking lot and found a number of heartnuts, just waiting to remind me of God’s love.  I’ve found them in other parking lots, on other streets, in parks, in dirt lots, and on other beaches.  Each time, I hear the Lord speaking softly to me – “I love you, more than you know.  You are my treasure.”

A song I wrote a last year expresses the importance of God’s love in my life.  It's that love that inspires me to worship Him.

Hallelujah Song

By Andy Cater, © Heartnut Music 2004

You saved me, You made me
You bought me with your precious blood
You knew me, saw through me
You called me when I once was lost
And you put this song inside my heart
Gave to me the hope of a brand new start

That’s why I sing hallelujah
Sing glory to your name
Sing praise you Jesus
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You hold me, You mold me
Enfold me with your loving care
You raised me, forgave me
You made me know you’re always there
And you put this song inside my soul
Gave me pure joy, now that you made me whole.