Digging For Gold

Our dog, Jack, had me laughing this week. We were walking together in a partly wooded area of a large field. Jack was busy with sniffing pursuits when suddenly he stopped, frozen in place, nose to the ground. Then, in a flurry of activity he began digging and digging. Dirt was flying everywhere. “What have you found, Jack?” I walked closer to investigate. He lifted his dirt covered face with a twinkle in his eyes. Whatever he was digging for, he was obviously convinced it was a treasure to find. Just a few minutes later — Presto! — he pulled up a tree root! Jack looked at me with proud eyes. I praised him for his diligence in discovering and excavating the root. Tail up and wagging he then trotted on to see what other delights he might discover along the way.

Jack may as well have been digging for gold, such was his joy in his find. Did you know you and I are also told to dig for gold? Jack’s gold was a tree root, but our gold are words of life. Jesus said to His followers in John 5:39, Search the Scriptures…they point to me (NLT). We know we should dive into God’s Word everyday, but it’s so easy to be tempted away by what seems to be more pressing and urgent matters. To appease our consciences we quickly read a few verses and then we’re on our way. When we do that, we’re skimming, not searching. Jack would have never found his tree root while skimming the dirt. He had to dig to find and enjoy his treasure. It’s no different for us as we daily walk our various paths of journey through life.

We know so many truths of God’s Words such as mediate day and night and you will be like a tree planted by the waters bringing forth its fruit in just the right season, right when you need it (Psalm 1:2-3 paraphrase mine). We must surely have read the instruction of II Timothy 2:15, Study to show yourselves approved to God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (KJV). If we desire strength and wisdom for today as we face life’s challenges, then we must look diligently into God’s Word. In it we find words to live by. Jesus said, The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life (John 6:63 NLT). The Word of God is living and active, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).

If we do not daily pay attention to God’s Word, then we are daily ill equipped to face the darts of the enemy. Satan is our enemy who daily seeks to tempt us away from the power of God’s Word. Satan sees the Words of God as dangerous, and they are dangerous against evil, for no evil can stand against the Words of God. Digging for the gold of Scripture need not be a tedious exercise, for it is full of joy and careful instruction to guide us in all the right ways to travel.

Miners in the California gold rush days would shout, “There’s gold in them thar hills!” If Jack could speak words he would shout, “There’s gold in the woods!” You and I can shout, “There’s gold in the Word of God!” Get to digging! Keep on seeking and you will find (Matthew 7:7 NLT).