Posted on by Angela

Treasure Scroll

In the Judean desert, treasure is scattered. All totaled, it is said to be worth over a billion dollars in today’s currency. It was hidden roughly two thousand years ago and has never been found. Some say it never existed in the first place. Others say it is still out there somewhere waiting to be found. Maybe parts of it have been found and never reported. The only reason we even know anything about it is the material it was written on. A scroll hidden in a cave close to the Dead Sea and made of copper.  

The Copper Scroll is the only one of the Dead Sea Scrolls of its kind. It was discovered in 1952 by archaeologists in cave three. The scroll was so oxidized by the elements from two millennia that archaeologists could not unroll it as they would papyrus. The scroll had to be cut into twenty-three pieces to get the full text of the scroll.  

Of course, since its discovery many have searched for the treasure the scroll is said to contain but have had no success. The problem lies in the fact that many of the places mentioned in the scroll no longer exist. They have just been lost to history. There are no landmarks that we normally associate with treasure maps or maps of any kind for that matter. It would be like telling us to take a left at the old oak tree but then someone cut down the old oak tree. Or to dig in the Adams’s backyard, but the Adams’s moved, and the backyard is now a parking lot. If the landmarks are gone, what about the treasure? 

Either it is still there hidden, or it has long since been found by the original ones who put it there. Another possibility is that it has been found and instead of reporting it the finder just quietly assimilated it into their life selling off pieces as they needed to. This seems the least likely as we as humans like to brag about our good fortune. If someone had found such a magnificent treasure, someone would know about it. 

Some have wondered where this treasure came from in the first place. Was it the treasure from the temple in Jerusalem before it’s fall in 70AD? (I’m old and old school. I still use AD and BC, instead of CE and BCE.) Or did it come from the sect that wrote some of the scrolls that were found in the caves? 

Now before we go all Indiana Jones and strike out trying to find this treasure, remember it has already been done by many others, and they had no success.  This has caused many to wonder if the treasure is even real. If I am honest, I believe it is, or at least was, someone went to all the trouble of engraving it on copper. Why do that for a lie?  I think there is something greater for us here. It is the reminder that everything that glitters is not gold. Sure, I believe the treasure did exist and might still somewhere. But more importantly is what Jesus taught us is Matthew 6:19-20: 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal…” (NASB) 

Real treasure is not what we can find buried in the sand or where X marks the spot. Treasure is found in following Jesus. Would it be fascinating to discover a great treasure? Certainly. Am I going to go dig up the Judean desert to look for what is contained on the Copper Scroll? Nope. My treasure awaits me, and no one will ever take it from me. It is saved for me alone and there is enough to go around for everyone who trusts in the name of Jesus.  

I love a good mystery, and the Copper Scroll captures my imagination. It is fun to chase aspirations of buried treasure worth untold wealth. But when I come back to the truth, my feet are firmly planted, and I know better than to chase a treasure that moth and rust corrupts and thieves would love to steal.  

Is the scroll truth or fiction? In the end, it doesn’t matter. It still teaches a great deal about treasure. Where does your treasure lie? Where is your heart? Place your treasure in heaven and follow Jesus. Choose Him today. He is worth more than any treasure.  

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Third Verse Devotion: Battle Hymn of the Republic

The words of this patriotic song were written by Julia Howe at the start of the Civil War in November 1861.  This patriotic song can be found in many hymnals. There are five stanzas to the song and all of them are full of meaning, for the sake of time I will only focus on one.

Here is the third verse from the 1991 Baptist Hymnal. You can find the full song at www.hymnary.org.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on. [Chorus]

Judgement is not something any of us like to think about. We choose to believe the characteristic of God as love, and He is love. Yet He is also judge. He cannot look on sin. He must judge sin. He is a righteous God and there is no unrighteousness in Him. So, the sin you and I carry must be judged.

There are two types of judgment mentioned in the New Testament. The first is found in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. This is a judgement for believers. Every person who has placed faith in Christ Jesus will stand before Him one day and give an account of the things they have done. Did you accept the gift of salvation that Jesus offers? What did you do with the gifts you have been given? How did you live your life? Did you share your faith with others? Did other people know you were a Christian? Did they know you believed in Jesus? What did you do good or bad after you became a follower of Jesus? This is what this judgement seat is all about. The second judgement is mentioned in Revelation and is called “the Great White Throne Judgement”. It is found in Revelation 20: 11-15 and is for all non-believers throughout history. Every individual who had the opportunity to accept God and refused will stand before Him and give an account of his deeds. All deeds were listed and then their name is checked against the book of Life. If their name was not listed there, they were thrown into the lake of fire.

Please hear me, if you think living a good life and performing good deeds will be enough to get you into heaven, Friend, you are wrong. You want your name in that book of Life. The only way to escape the Great White Throne Judgement is Jesus. You want to be at that first judgment.  The next line of the song is “…be swift, my soul, to answer Him…”. Let that be your response as well. When you know God is calling you to follow him, do not hesitate. Respond then. Ephesians 2: 8-9 reminds us:

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 

not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASB)

You can never perform enough good works or be a good enough person to make your way to heaven and escape the second judgement. Good works will not get your name in the book of life. Only accepting the grace of Jesus will accomplish salvation and ensure judgment at Christ’s judgement seat.

Be assured God loves you. He does not want any at the second judgment. It is a fact that many will be there. Those who choose to reject Him. You don’t have to be among their number. If you are reading these words, you still have a choice. Make that choice today. Be swift to answer Him.  Since everyone one day will be judged, where will your judgement take place, at the foot of Jesus or at the Great White Throne of God. I hope to see you at the feet of Jesus.

Angela