What is the worst thing going on in the world that you can think of? One evening a family was discussing that very subject at the supper table. The conversation went something like this.
“Dad, what is the worst thing in the world?” asked Sally. “I don't know. What do you think?” he replied. Sally answered, “I think the worst thing in the world is being sick a long time and not being able to get out.” “Ah, good health is a great blessing, isn't it?” her Dad responded. “Yet, people can be happy even when they are sick. God often blesses His children through their sicknesses.” “I think the worst thing in the world is being poor,” said Sally's brother, Stephen. And with a grin he added, “Dad, can you raise my allowance?” “God asks us to help people who are poor,” Dad said. “But He promised that His children will always have whatever they need. And He warns us against loving money. Hmm, maybe I should cut your allowance then,” Dad replied with a smile.
“I think that not getting a good education is the worst trouble that a person could have,” said Susan, who was in college. “People who don't learn much might not be able to get a good job and take care of themselves.” Dad nodded in agreement: “A good mind and a good education are important blessings. But there are many happy and successful people who have had very little education.”
“I know the worst thing in the world,” said Sally who had been thinking the whole time since she started the conversation. “It's sin. Pastor said the Bible calls it the root of all other troubles we have.”
“That's right,” Dad said. “Before Adam and Eve sinned, they had no sickness and no trouble. Best of all, they weren't in any trouble with God, so they were always happy. If sin is the worst trouble, what is the best blessing?” “God's forgiveness,” Sally said. “ Nothing is more important than having God's forgiveness that removes all our sin and gives us life with Him.”
I. Treasure it for yourself.
Dear friends, we call that the gospel. It's the good news of God's forgiveness for us in Christ. Where would we be without it? You know where we'd be; we'd be in hell, separated from the blessings of God forever. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Ro.6:23); “the soul that sins shall die” (Ez.18:4); “your sins have separated you from God” (Is.59:2); and on the last day He will say to those whose sins are not taken care of: “Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt.25:41). Sin is the worst thing that could ever happen to any of us! And it has! “For we all have sinned and gone astray” (Is.53:6), each “falling short of the glory of God” (Ro.3:23).
Think of that last truth from the Bible this way. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon ? If not, you've all seen pictures of it. It's a wondrous sight to behold – the huge, majestic nature of that crevice in the earth astounds the eye.
Imagine the whole world's population gathered on the edge of the canyon with a forest fire raging behind us. There's only one way to escape being destroyed - find a way across the canyon.
So, out of the crowd comes the world record holder of the long jump. He's the guy who can jump the farthest in the whole world. “I'll show you the way to safety,” he says. So he backs up 20 yards and runs to the edge of the canyon. Springing out over it, his arms and legs are kicking and pumping for all they're worth, like a long jumper does. He gets out there twice as far as he's ever gone, over 60 feet. But then what happens? Gravity takes over and down he goes – splat! against the canyon floor.
So another athlete comes out of the crowd and says he'll show us the way across. He imitates the long jumper, backs up 20 yards, runs and jumps just like the long jumper did, arms flailing, feet pumping. He's never jumped before in his life, but he too sails past the world record. He gets out there 35 feet. What happens? Gravity takes over and down he goes - splat! against the canyon floor.
Well, I guess it's up to me to show you the way across. So I imitate the other two, back up 20 yards, run to the edge, but as I get ready to jump I step on my shoelace and bloop! – over the edge I go – splat! against the canyon floor. We all end at the same place – against the canyon floor. And it doesn't do the guy who got out there 60 feet one particle of good to turn around and boast, “Well, I got farther than you did,” because we all ended up at the same spot – splat! against the canyon floor.
Now, as ridiculous as that story might appear to be, it is a good illustration of what the Bible meant when it says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is no difference.” You see, dear friends, the chasm that exists between a holy God and us is far greater than the expanse across the Grand Canyon . None of us could ever hope to bridge that gap. But there is one who could, Christ Jesus, the Savior. With His sin-atoning life, death, and resurrection He bridged the gap for us so that the verse continues, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.”
Christ did it all; Christ finished the work of salvation for us. And those who receive it in faith have it, for “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
What you, dear friend, could never buy, earn, or obtain on your own, God gives you through faith in the Lord Jesus. That in a nutshell is the gospel. It takes care of the worst thing that has happened to us all. Sickness drives us mad; poverty makes us sad; no education may be bad; but the problems raised by these cannot compare with the tragedy of sin in our lives. It leads to eternal destruction when Christ returns. Then His angels shall throw all the bad “fish” who did not believe in Him “into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Eternal agony caused by sin not taken care of! But God provided the cure - Christ.
Oh, what a great thing He has done! It's the best blessing that is yours. In the parables it's like the treasure that's hidden in the field which some stumble upon in life. They aren't necessarily looking for it, but God is looking for them and they come upon it.
Maybe they found a Bible in a hotel room and read it for once. Maybe they picked up a meditation booklet that you gave them. Maybe they finally went to church because a friend had been asking for a long time. They really weren't looking for the Savior, like the farmer in the field wasn't looking for a treasure. But he stumbled on it and knew this was it; he had to have it. So he let everything else go that he could own that treasure. Sometimes, that's how the kingdom of God and the gospel finds people.
It finds others because they're looking for something greater to fill an emptiness in their lives, like the merchant searching for the greatest pearl. One day he found it, and the same thing happened. This was it! He gave up everything to get that one great pearl. Sometimes that's how God's kingdom and the gospel find others. How did it find you? When you were baptized? Confirmed?
When you heard about the Lord Jesus as an adult? In one sense the “when” doesn't matter. What matters is this. When this gospel of forgiveness in Christ comes, treasure it as the best thing you have because it is - now and forever. Let nothing interfere with it in your life. Paul said, “I consider everything else a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…having a righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ.” (Phlp.3:7f). Nothing's more important than that. Treasure it for yourself.
II. Bring out its riches for others to enjoy.
But there's more. Jesus asked those who heard His words, “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” He wants you to teach these things to others; He wants you to bring out the riches of the gospel for others to enjoy.
Think of His words this way. I once knew a boy who loved to go fishing. One day he caught several nice fish, 5 of them, and thought he had a good catch. Then he caught one more. It was a big fish and got him all excited. So he threw all the small ones back into the lake and ran home to show everyone the one big fish.
The riches of the gospel of Christ for us is like the one big fish. It makes us forget all the other blessings we consider important in life because knowing Christ becomes the all important part of our lives. We want to tell others about Him. And He wants us to bring out His riches for them to enjoy.
Those treasures of the gospel are as old as the hills, because they were first proclaimed to Adam and Eve after their fall in the garden. And they are as new as today for right now, this very moment, our sins must be forgiven if we are to have peace with God. And they are, for Christ's sake! No message is more essential, and no heart is happier than that which has been cleansed of all its sin. That message never grows old but is fresh daily. And think of it! God has given you and me the pleasure and honor to bring it's wealth to others. So, dear friend, plumb the depths of its richness. There's nothing more important than that.
God grant it in our lives of faith for Jesus' sake. Amen.