Untapped Treasures

Untapped Treasures

 ^“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” 2 Chron. 16:9

In the sixteenth chapter of the book of second Chronicles, we find the story of how Asa king of Judah relied upon a foreign king to defend Judah, and not upon the God of Isreal.  Hanani the prophet then came to Asa and rebuked him for depending on worldly deliverance and not trusting the Lord to protect his kingdom and his people. That rebuke included the reminder that the Lord intently waits in His Heaven for those who call Him Lord to give Him opportunity to “show Himself strong” on their behalf.

            Like an untapped treasure, the blessings and powerful workings of God are available for those who are first His children, and then especially for those who will by faith put their trust in Him in time of need. We can read of the Psalmist’s understanding of this when he declares “when I call on Him, he will answer me” and in Paul’s letter to the Philippians where he writes “my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory”.

            The basis for our confidence in His willingness to respond to our needs in this life in such a powerful and loving way is found in the most basic of truths about God.  That truth is that He is “our Father”. In order for us to begin to understand how He as a Father loves to take care of the needs of His children, He has given us the role of natural fathers and mothers, allowing us to experience that incredible love and desire to take care of our natural children so that we might begin to understand how He, as the perfect heavenly Father, longs to give gifts and supply needs to all of His children. He is not only “willing” to meet our needs; He actively searches the earth for opportunities to show His powerful heavenly care, “the eyes of the Lord go to & fro-searching…”.

            In attempting to convey the availability of His powerful works to all those who will put their trust in the Father in their time of trouble, Jesus taught His disciples “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. After saying this, Jesus then explains why the believer can have such confidence that God will answer when we ask.  He says “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him”.

            The answer to why God is so enthusiastic to “show Himself strong” in the lives of His children is that basic truth of “He is our Father”.  And true to the loving and benevolent nature of a father, God wants to do great things in the lives of His children.  All that stands between His willingness to act in our lives and the reality of us receiving His powerful giftings is our own willingness to ask and believe.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “examine yourself” today and see if you too are leaving “untapped treasures” of the heavenly Father’s gifts upon the shelf as you tackle life’s trials and battles.  As our text declares “the eyes of the Lord are going to and fro about the entire earth, searching to show Himself strong” in the lives of those who will call on Him and believe. As James has so practically admonished “you have not because you ask not!”.