Wednesday, August 4, 2021
The Spoils
not so precious at all
of
Last Night’s Supper
Psalm 119:162
I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Words of Grace For Today
When one thinks of ‘spoils’ that one may find, which are of great value, one thinks of the ‘spoils of war’ or something similar, where great destruction has been wielded against people. The aftermath leaves things ruined, and among the ruins there are valuables, valuables that the destroyers did not find, or at least did not take with them. Then the passing of time has covered over the mess of ruins, valuables included, until …
We came upon a small mound in the far corner of the woods. That is I, with a camera, made this find. Good that I had a witness or it would not be believed, even by me. I walked, the camera working it’s record-taking of the beauty and devastation that would be uncovered. Then the whole mound circled and nothing unusual discovered I discounted it all as an ant colony since the place was crawling with them.
I walked on, only 4 metres, to find my foot disappearing into the ground, and then my leg and then all of me as the camera was not recording anything, and my mind was racing with self-preservation thoughts, until I came to a soft landing, sort of, given the circumstances with my head a good foot under ground level. I looked about after I felt enough to know I was not hurt from tip to toe. Before me was a doorway built of rocks moulded (that’s the only way to describe how exactly they were fit together) into an arch. Under it a cavern opened up under that ‘ant colony.’
Cautiously I probed forward, the camera providing light and recording at first nothing but rock walls and a void ahead. Then ….
I cannot disclose the treasure I found, for it’s value is ancient, beyond compare, and priceless. This was obviously the spoils of something like war, taken before the destruction and hidden in safety never to be retrieved, or taken after the destruction and hidden to be collected later. But there was no later for those who knew of it.
I’ve been homeless for years now. The wealth in this treasure will provide for me a home more marvellous than all my dreams. Though late in years I will do all that I could dream of and still be able to do yet more, for money will be no obstacle now for me.
Even so this discovery is only what it is. It does not compare to the treasure that God provides in Jesus and Jesus’ story of God’s love. This is an old, old story, which was given to me when I was not even a quarter year old, and which has given me life, a home (even when I was homeless), fed me, given me a career, a defence against all my enemies (oh, how many and how foolish they have been), and provided wisdom beyond my years from early in life. Most precious it has provided me with forgiveness for my sins, giving me the possibility of living in God’s truth, by grace alone.
While the enemies are attacking again, like the ants that never seem to be defeated entirely no matter what one employs, my defence is sure. My defence is God’s Word given to us in Jesus Christ. What more could anyone need. For when under attack or at peace we know God’s Promises are for us. There is nowhere else we need to turn to for life abundant. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.
This eternal life (which started for us long ago in this life on earth) is a treasure more priceless than anything in all of creation. It is a treasure which a camera can record only glimpses of on rare occasions. Thus my camera keeps searching, taking me along, to record the spartan glimpses of God’s greatest treasure: forgiveness and renewed life bringing us to eternal life all our days on earth and beyond.
This treasure never spoils.