“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like 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.” —Matthew 13:44
I have been a pastor/teacher for a long time and am disturbed by what some of my colleagues teach. We are sinners, for “all have fallen short of the glory of God.” That fact has been drilled into the church for centuries.
But the inference is that we are not just sinners, but worthless sinners, and God doesn‘t really like us all that much.
After all, when the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he opened his letter with, “To the dirty, rotten, worthless sinners who live in Ephesus” — right?
No!
He wrote, “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace.”
The truth is, God loved us even when we were sinners.
Jesus taught, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like 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” (Matthew 13:44).
We are His treasure.
When we repent, we are changed. When we turn from our way of thinking, living, and believing and begin to follow the Lord into new territory, then and only then do we experience what God promised: We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2), we are “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We don’t have to live with fear, worries, and anxiety. These are the idols of a past without God.
The children of Israel followed Joshua into the river, crossed the Jordan, and entered the Promised Land. Their true identity and inheritance became reality the moment they stepped into the water.
Passover was the night the nation was born. But the day they crossed the Jordan, the nation was baptized and revived as they stepped forward in obedience.
When we accept God’s love for us, our identity as His children grows stronger, and the power of God’s kingdom can be manifested in our lives.
“Sinner” is no longer our identity. The moment we repent, we are forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness.
We are God’s treasure, His beloved.
Despite our failings, weaknesses, disobedience, and acts of rebellion, He treasures us enough to send His Son to sacrifice Himself for us. We are His brave and triumphant children who follow Him into the river, unafraid, ready to face giants, smash idols, and receive our inheritance.
