We have a new President of the United States of America! In his inaugural speech yesterday he laid the groundwork for what he anticipates to be his presidency. Among other things he called the people of this country to participate in the working of this country. He said that we are citizens and we need to live with civility towards one another. The greatness of this nation depends on our ability to work together for the common good of all people. The ability of the nation to lead in the causes for freedom is that every citizen lives and supports those principles upon which this nation was born. In other words, he wants this nation to be light to the rest of the world. President George W. Bush knows what he believes and aspires for. He knows what he believes to be of primary importance for the good of the nation and is seeking to see it fulfilled in his life.

     What we choose to seek is that which we value. What we value is that which brings light into our lives. We will often do whatever we are capable of to find that treasure if it is not immediately accessible; thus, we are finding light when we go in search of whatever it may be that we esteem.

What we esteem as Christians is not unlike what is treasured by the non-Christian. The means by which that treasure is gained is what separates the two disparate groups. Let’s look at what is held in high regard by looking at the examples that Paul articulates in this passage. We may have other things that might be added to the list, what is stated here is just to get us thinking about the issue raised.

     We seek that which we most choose to value.
     There are two primary things that people seek:
     The first is knowledge (or enlightenment).
     The second is fulfillment.
     The truth is that each of us desires to be knowledgeable (or enlightened) about the things of life. We want to have these basic questions answered:

     Who?
     What?
     When?
     Where?
     Why?

     There is the inherent belief that if these questions are answered then we will find fulfillment.

     The connection between the two of these is evident – one naturally leads to the other. The difference lies in the nature of our relationship with "the God of our under-standing." It is this latter issue which determines the means to enlightenment; and shows clearly what is valued.

     Let’s look at what the text suggests:

     First, the Gentile (the non-Christian) thinks about the issues of life and seeks to know it in all its breadth. The problem faced is that the thought process of the non-Christian is ultimately faulty because it can get no further than itself and its limitations. We are limited by our five senses, which only serve to remind us of our being finite creatures. Our senses tell us of the things that we experience, and it is these things which give us the knowledge, or enlightenment, we so desperately seek.

     Further, "the God of our understanding" for the non-Christian is (ultimately) no greater than that person. The reason for this is that imagination (and understanding/ enlightenment) is experientially limited. This effectively darkens understanding because it purposely limits accessible knowledge. This is what Paul is referring to in v. 18: "they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."

     Second, because of the hardening of their hearts there is the loss of sensitivity and thus a loss of fulfillment. What Paul is referring to in v.19 is the reality that those who have become darkened wouldn’t know the truth if they fell over it, because they lacked the sensitivity to know the truth regarding life. This leads to situations in which in the desire to know there is a willingness to indulge experientially (the words used here - "have given themselves over to sensuality to indulge…"). The writer of Ecclesiastes recognized this indulgent attitude in his experiment to know life – he did this for a period apart from God. It wasn’t until his elder years that he reminded his readers to remember their Creator while they were still young, before the days would come when they were bitter and cynical, callused towards life (Ecclesiastes 12:1ff, my paraphrase).

     The deep problem of the human condition is that if our lives do not have a sense of fulfillment we will continue to do what seems right at the time to meet that inner need. We have heard the phrase: "if it feels good, do it." Another phrase from a song and movie in the seventies: "it can’t be wrong if it feels so right." Unfortunately, there is a blindness, an inability to distinguish right from wrong, or good from evil, or health from sickness, because we are doing it predicated upon that which we have treasured more than anything else – ourselves!

     It is the result of our own pride (perhaps to be preferred is the word arrogance) that we are not able to answer the deepest need of our lives. The deepest need in our lives is to find that buried treasure that will give us the knowledge and fulfillment that is so tantalizingly close. Yet, this is an eternity away when we seek the treasure apart from the revelation of that which is beyond our human experience.

     The questions of life:

     Who?

          Who am I?
          Who brought about my being?
          Who is responsible?

     What?

          What is my relationship to the universe?
          What kind of person am I?
          What is the purpose?

     When?

          When will I finally arrive?
          When will I get out of here?
          When will the sermon be over?

     Where?

          Where will life bring me?
          Where is God, if He even exists?
          Where will I find the answers to the question that so plague me?

     Why?

          Why do I exist?
          Why do bad things happen to good people?
          Why must I follow the laws of the land?
     

     If we don’t want to stuck in philosophical questions, how about something more practical?
     Who will be there for me when my life is a shambles? Whom can I trust?
     What is it that continues to ruin my life? What causes me to do what I do?
     When will this struggling finally reach an end?
     Where will I be tomorrow? Where will it lead me?
     Why am I having so much difficulty making ends meet financially?

     The reality is that there are no easy answers to the questions that are presented, nor of the additional questions any of us could ask. But, where the person outside of God’s grace has nothing to depend upon but him/herself, the one who has become committed to following Jesus Christ knows that though there may not be an easy answer there is a purpose (and an answer for those who are willing to wait). Though that purpose and answer may not be pleasant or welcome at the time, it is something that will be of ultimate benefit for God’s children.

     Paul began this section v.17 with the admonition that believers were not to live as unbelievers – in futile thinking. Having stated the case of the unbelieving mind and lifestyle he quickly followed up with the nature of the life of the follower of Christ. Today, we will briefly look at this next paragraph.

     Note the first issue of importance: "You didn't come to know Christ that way." What we see here is two things: (1) it wasn’t that they came to know about Christ and His teaching, it was that they came to know Christ; and (2) the phrase "that way" is referring to the futile thinking mentioned with regard to the worldly thought process.

     In the first place, when they came to know Christ there is recognition of not only knowing the tradition of His teaching and the lives they were to lead, but they came to know the reality of the resurrected and living Christ. There is the reality in which the believer has come to a face to face relationship with Jesus, and that Jesus now indwells the life of the believer through the Holy Spirit. In the second place, "that way" refers to the distinction between the means of attaining knowledge and fulfillment in life.

     For the Christian, finding buried treasure is not to be found in the attainment of knowledge and personal fulfillment. The Treasure to be found is God as revealed in the truth of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. "The truth that is in Jesus" we can read with understanding from what Jesus revealed of Himself in John 14:6ff: "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me."

     Being a Christian is not about being a good person, being ethically and morally righteous. Being a Christian is about a mindset and having a heart set on the Treasure that we have in heaven, and within our own beings. Being a Christian is about wanting a relationship with the God who created all things, and who in love sought to give knowledge and fulfillment of life to all who would call upon the name of His Son. Being righteous is to be the natural (or should we say supernatural) outworking of that relationship.

     How shall we then live?

1. Don't lie…speak truthfully.
     What is it that a lie gets one as opposed to the truth?
2. Don't let anger overwhelm…be self-controlled.
     Other than destruction, what does anger accomplish?
     It puts us in league with the agenda of the devil.
3. Don't steal…work usefully.
     What does stealing do to our overall benefit?
4. Don't speak unwholesomely…be helpful to others in their need.
     What benefit is there in talk that rips apart?
     Be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen.
5. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has sealed you for the day of redemption.

     Get rid of:

          Bitterness
          Rage and anger
          Brawling and slander
          Every form of malice

     Take on these attributes:

          Kindness and compassion
          Forgiveness, just as Christ forgave us
          Godliness, imitate God
          Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us

Next week we will look more closely at the attitude of heart that we are called to as believers in, and followers of, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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