THE HIDDEN TREASURE by C. Castberg

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 11.

THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

By C. Castberg

The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matt. 13:44.

This field is the Bible, in appearance similar to all other books, but, like this one field, it contains, above all other books, the precious and costly treasures of God. And, like the treasure in the field, its riches do not appear on the surface, but are hidden from the natural mind, which “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:14, 9, 10.

The Spirit of God, then, is the key that will unlock the treasure-house of truth. It is the guide that will show where these treasures are hid. Hence Christ says: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:13, 14.

This “Mine,” which is a mine indeed, and from which we may receive eternal riches, is Christ, who is “the Word;” for “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 2, 14. And Paul, in speaking of “being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God,” directs our attention to Christ, “in whom,” He says, “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col. 2:2, 3. But if “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in Christ, then they are hid in “the Word;” for the Word is the expression of it all.

How many consider that the Bible they possess is the widest field for investigation and research, an inexhaustible treasure-house, a Book in which God has stored all wisdom and knowledge? The Spirit of God exhorts all, “Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord, and read.” Isa. 34:16. Everything He has commanded, and all that His Spirit has gathered for the uplifting and edification and enlightenment of the human race, is found in “the Book of the Lord.” Nothing is lacking; nothing is wanting. One may go to this Book and receive information and guidance on any topic of value.

But, above all, God has in the Bible revealed unto His people the most glorious of all sciences, the “knowledge of salvation . . . by the remission of their sins, thru the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:77–79.

In contemplating the greatness and the sublimity of the Word of God, the psalmist exclaims: “I will praise Thee with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy loving-kindness and for Thy truth; for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name.” Ps. 138:1, 2.

Is this the language of thy heart?

Many are fostering the idea that the Spirit of God will communicate knowledge to them in a supernatural way without any effort on their part; and strange indeed are many of the doctrines which it is claimed they have thus been obtaining. But we have no such promise. The Spirit is given to guide us in searching the Word of God, which not only “is truth,” but contains “all truth.” John 17:17; 16:13. And right here we may fitly apply the adage, No struggle, no victory; no effort, no reward. We may as well expect to obtain worldly wisdom by folding our arms and doing nothing as

to think of obtaining “the knowledge of God” without an earnest, persistent effort on our part in searching for it.

The Word of God has itself pointed out the way in which we may make its treasures our own. Listen to the counsel of the wise man: “My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Prov. 2:1–5.

Thus is the whole secret revealed: First, a sense of our great need, then a willing heart and an earnest desire to know the truth; and then a seeking as after silver, and a searching as for hid treasures. This is not the effort of a day, but a life-work, yea, the work of an eternal life; for thru the ceaseless ages of eternity the Word of God will constitute “the wells of salvation,” out of which the redeemed shall draw water with joy. Isa. 12:3.

A superficial reading of the Bible can not possibly reveal its hidden treasures, any more than a casual walk along the mountainside will bring to view the riches of its depths. Tho we may find a few gems in this way, it is only the one who, like the miner, “digs out the ore,” “and to the uttermost searcheth out the rocks that are in the darkness,” who will find his efforts crowned with success. “His eye seeth every precious thing; . . . and the thing that is hid bringeth He forth to light.” Job 28:1–11. As the miner follows the rich vein, so one must take up subject after subject, and follow them thru the different books of the Bible, until he has gathered all that God has spoken on these special points. In such work the Spirit will help and guide. It is in this way we may search out “the deep things of God.”

To this end the Bible gives several examples. After Philip had ascended the chariot of the inquiring Ethiopian, he “opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” Acts 8:35. The eunuch desired Philip to be his “guide” in his seeking after truth. Verse 31. And what was the result? The record says, “He went on his way rejoicing.” Verse 39. In the same way Paul reasoned with the Thessalonians “out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Acts 17:1–3.

Read also of the meeting between Christ and the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. They did not understand the things that had occurred in Jerusalem, but in explaining, Jesus said: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:13–27. And what was their testimony?—“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Verse 32. Surely “the entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Ps. 119:130.

Even so now we may go our way rejoicing, and our hearts may burn within us, if we take hold in earnest to study the Scriptures in the way God Himself has indicated. They will then open to us hitherto hidden things, and they will be so precious in our eyes that we will exclaim, with the apostle Paul: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Phil. 3:7, 8. C. CASTBERG.

Fruitvale, Cal.