I suppose the game of hide-and-seek has been around since the beginning of time.

When we’re not hunting Easter eggs, my grandchildren delight in hiding other objects around the house for us to find, or playing hide-and-seek outside.

What is the allure of such a simple game?

The thrill of finding something that was once “lost”.  The seeking and finding gives such a sense of accomplishment–like we’ve just won the lottery, when what we’ve really found is quite possibly worth only the memory made. (Did I say, “only”?!)

Because we live in Illinois, a known Indian territory, my husband has dreamed of finding an Indian artifact.  Any tilled ground or mound-looking land stirs up his Indiana Jones mentality and he starts talking probabilities.  What are the chances that something might be there…

A treasure.  A piece of history.  Tangible evidence of our nation’s past.  Visions of bows and arrows and warriors dancing in his head.

And it happened! This treasure-hunting adult not-so-coincidentally found one right in his own backyard!

How cool is that?! There is just something about holding a piece of history in your hand that brings perspective–on the past and on the present.  A glimpse of the past, and a reminder of the people and pieces of our history that have affected who we are today.

My grandchildren see these things differently. Their treasures don’t need to be ancient nor do they need to have any significant meaning before their eyes light up and pure delight takes over their faces when they find that something special:

a bluejay’s feather,

a pine cone,

a wildflower,

or “the coolest rock ever!”

The sheer joy in a child–coming from the simplest of things.

And somehow they remind us of the things we’ve forgotten to treasure.

One of the things we love most about living in the country is having an abundance of these “treasures”.  Every day I get to look out my window and hear the sound of a woodpecker pounding away or birds singing, calling, and hooting.  I watch as squirrels climb to the top of massive trees, and quietly observe the deer foraging for food.

Funny, isn’t it, that the world hears the word treasure, and immediately visions of gold and silver or green paper come to mind.

And they are just not nearly as exciting as they used to be.

Sure, when I was younger I would get excited to find a coin on the ground, and I still pick up a penny when I find it. (See “Pick Up a Penny“), but the allure of the dollar has lost its luster.

I know that God has blessed me, and not just financially. He has shown me that my greatest treasure can’t be measured with coins, and

when I found this treasure, it changed my life.

Because it cost Him His.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” I Peter 1:18-19

The Easter season is upon us, and as I reflect on how much He loves us, I can’t help but be grateful.

Some will actually consider what Easter really means, while others will focus on new dresses, candy-filled baskets, and brightly colored eggs. I choose to embrace it all:  the celebration of a risen Savior!

At Christmastime Christians will often say, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”; I want to proclaim that Easter is no different. God sent Jesus into the world, fulfilling centuries-old prophecies.  But the baby in a manger grew up.  God the Son revealed Himself and His plan for mankind: to take the sins of the world upon Himself and die in our place.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

This “old, old, story” is history.  It may change in my lifetime, but the fact that His resurrection is still celebrated world-wide gives me hope. We know these events really happened and that Jesus is alive!

The treasure that He offers is for “whosoever will come”.  He came.  He died.  His death was an offer of sacrifice for the penalty of my sin. Of your sin.  He took our place. But this story doesn’t end here, like it does with every other so-called god.  The One True God conquered death and came back to life again–to prove His power over sin and death and hell.  To offer as A GIFT the forgiveness of our sin and redemption of our soul–what treasure could be greater than that??

I pray you choose to worship the RISEN SAVIOR today and every day.  This Easter Sunday, find a body of believers you can worship and grow with.  Become a part of a church that will help you discover all that God has for you.  Don’t put Jesus away in a holiday box–Golden or otherwise–this treasure is meant to be shared.

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: