My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you will call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5, 1978 NIV

I love the old cartoon strip, "Calvin and Hobbes". For those of you familiar with this comic, you know that it follows the adventures of a little boy named Calvin, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. In one scene, we find Clavin, wearing a safari hat, digging a large hole. Hobbes asks Calvin if he has found anything and Calvin replies, "a few dirty rocks, a weird root and some disgusting grubs". Hobbes exclaims, "On your first try?" Calvin responds with the classic line that only a true boy or girl could identify with: "There's treasure everywhere".

This is the way God's world is, though we adults tend to forget it as we grow older. The exciting thrills that appear around each corner of youth just seem to fade into a kind of bored cynicism as we age. I was reminded of the exuberance of youth just the other night when we were outside the church building after worship, and somebody discovered a tarantula on the side of wall. A guy named Guy knocked it down and picked it up for my grandkids (aged two and three) to see. The kids dashed back and forth, first approaching the terrifying spider, then running away, all the time roaring with squeals of delight. They were alive to the fullest at that moment, drinking in all of the simple pleasures that God's wonderful nature had to offer. 

My grandson turns four tomorrow but received a bicycle for his birthday already. He was one happy young man standing beside his green bike with his new helmet strapped to his head! But as happy as he was, it was nothing in comparison to the few short minutes of unexpected joy that he and his little sister had displayed when they had a chance to touch that hairy-legged creature (the tarantula, not their dad) just an evening prior. 

But it's not just my grandkids who have this gift, as I have noticed that the art of finding treasure everywhere seems to be universal amongst children everywhere. They always seem to have their heads and a swivel and their eyes wide open as they walk through life. They are always looking for that next treasure, and because they are looking, they always seem to find it. It doesn't matter if it's an old rock or a weird root or even a tarantula spider, they live a life of excitement because that's the way God has designed them.

And, if we keep our eyes open as we age, we too will find that there is treasure everywhere!

In no area of life is this more true than within the pages of God's Word. As the wise King Solomon noted, it is the source of insight, understanding, wisdom and, best of all, the fear of the LORD and the knowledge of God! It is these spiritual blessings that will turn our lives into a wonderous adventure on a daily basis - if we will allow it. But Solomon goes on to reveal that these blessings do not just happen: They are available only to those who will search for them like they would for hidden treasure.

So, a wise person will ask himself, "Am I searching?" Am I desirous enough for virtues such as wisdom and knowledge that I would be willing to exert the effort required to find them? The fact is that most people grow older, but few seem to grow wiser. Why is that? I believe it is for the same reason that we fail to see the treasure that our kids can readily see in the everyday gifts that God sets before us. When was the last time you "giggled with glee" over something as silly as the discovery of a large, hairy-legged spider? When was the last time you held in your hand a rock that made the joy of your day complete? I realize that we are far too mature for such childish things, but there are a million others just waiting for us to enjoy if we will take the time to look.

There are the beautiful sunrises for those who get up early, and the skies filled with stars for those who stay up late. There is the awesome effect of a glistening rain shower that appears on rare occasions on some sunny days. There is the joy of living vicariously through the eyes of ears of your grandchildren, and there is the exhilaration you feel at the cry of a Blue Jay. There are treasures everywhere... for those who will take the time to notice.

I believe this is why God has given us so much to experience in His creation, and I know it is why He has given us the wonder of His Word. As I grow older, I find myself more and more amazed at the gifts He has placed within the pages of the Bible. I see a world that is falling apart for those living outside of His instruction, but I see a world of opportunity and hope for those who are trying to live within the bounds of His ways. But the requirement for finding treasure is the same - whether as a child digging in his yard, or as an adult reading in God's word. 

And what is this requirement? We have to be willing to put in the effort! And, we have to have our eyes and our hearts open! If we will do these things, I am convinced that life will become what God has always intended for it to be: An exciting search that contains a marvelous treasure at the end. The only thing we have to do is recognize the fact that God has treasures awaiting all of His children, if they will simply put in the effort needed to find it.