I’ve always enjoyed treasure hunting stories. Searching for fabulous lost treasures, finding them, and somehow escaping all the elaborate, hidden traps guarding them sounded like an exciting career choice when I was younger.
Jesus talked about treasures, too. He asked us to “store up treasures in heaven” and explained that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (See Matthew 6:19-21).
I’ve been intrigued by a little “treasure-hunting” story of our own. It begins as Grandma Carolyn started writing our LOGOI Bible students who had yet to complete their Bible courses. One of the people she contacted was Pablo Osorio in Ecuador. Pablo was thrilled to hear from Grandma and promised to find the time to complete the 22 chapters and related exams.
Something about Pablo touched Grandma Carolyn’s heart. Perhaps it was that he was just 18 years old and doing his best to study the treasure of God’s Word as well as finish his high school work online. (When they were able, his family paid their next-door neighbor for time on their internet.) Maybe it was the way he thanked his “new grandma” for encouraging him to finish. Whatever it was, Grandma Carolyn was determined to help this young man complete his studies.
Pablo mentioned his desire to one day have a Study Bible. Of course, grandmas don’t miss those hints and she instantly knew she had the final bit of encouragement Pablo needed to finish. “When you finish your course,” Grandma wrote, “I will send you a study Bible.”
Pablo finished a week later.
I was with Grandma Carolyn when she packed up the Bible and took it to the MailMart. When we learned that it would cost over $95 in postage to mail it, I said, “Mom, let the ministry help with this.” Her quick glare said “absolutely not”. This was her gift and no one was going to steal her joy.
Off it went with a special note inside for Pablo. Delivery, we were told, could take up to three weeks. But after three weeks, it still had not arrived. There was no delivery after six weeks or even after twelve. Each week Grandma Carolyn would check, but now three months had passed and no one seemed to know where the Bible was. Both Pablo and Grandma Carolyn sadly concluded the study Bible was lost.
But of course–you already guessed–just when they determined all was lost, the Bible was finally delivered. There has been great rejoicing in Grandma-Carolyn land.
I’ve thought a lot about that small box winding its way around the world to get to Pablo. Did anyone else who touched that package have any idea that the treasure inside was worth more than all the gold and wealth in all the world?
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,” Jesus said, “which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).
Every day at LOGOI, the Lord gives us the opportunity to give the treasure of His Word to pastors and teaching leaders throughout the Spanish-speaking world. While a few, like Pablo, may get a little extra TLC from Grandma Carolyn, every one of them receives the matchless “treasure” of getting to know Jesus Himself.
And just think, they are studying so they can share this treasure with others. Over 30,000 have now registered with us at LOGOI.org. What a treasure!
Thank you for being a “treasure giver” with us.
Forever!
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