The seas were raging. The anger of the ocean was overwhelming. This would be their end.
All was lost.
They had tried to outrun the hurricane, but there was no escaping its deadly embrace. They dropped anchor in the shallow waters off the Florida Keys in an attempt to keep the ship off the rocks, but it was no use. The relentless assault of the waves and wind did their worst and she sunk.
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha was a very significant ship in the Spanish fleet. She was carrying half a billion dollars of gold, silver and jewels. But all her wealth could not save her. Her riches were scattered across the ocean floor in 55 feet of water on September 6th, 1622.
For over 60 years the Spanish searched for the treasure, but it was not to be found. For hundreds of years it lay hidden in the depths, slowly being further hidden by the shifting sands of time and all manner of organic and inorganic matter. Many had tried to find the treasure over the centuries, but none had succeeded.
Then in 1969, at 47 years of age, an optimistic treasure hunter named Mel Fisher took up the quest to find the riches of the Atocha. He dedicated his life to finding this wildly valuable hidden treasure. He found just enough treasure over the years to continue funding his quest.
For 16 years he gave himself wholeheartedly to uncover the riches the sea had buried. He persevered through all manner of storms and setbacks. He fought and won over 100 court battles. He spent millions. He engaged investors to help provide the resources to continue his search. He lost his own ship to a storm; sadly, his son and daughter in law were lost as well.
Though Mel was buffeted by all manner of resistance – financial, emotional, physical, and legal – he never gave up. He continued to move forward in the face of opposition. He was continuously optimistic in spite of disappointment after disappointment. He would get up every day and declare,
“Today is the day!”
For 16 years, over 5840 times, he declared, “Today is the day!”, until 1985 when he and his team finally discovered the $450 million dollar treasure cache or “Atocha Mother Lode”. Over 40 tons of silver and gold were located including over 100,000 Spanish silver coins known as “Pieces of Eight”, gold coins, Columbian emeralds, silver and gold artifacts and over 1000 silver bars.
After 16 years of optimistic perseverance July 20, 1985 was the day. At the age of 63 he found a treasure of unfathomable value. He had demonstrated commitment to his quest unlike any other undersea treasure hunter of his generation, and he was richly rewarded for his efforts.
Scripture tells us something about treasure. We are encouraged not to seek the treasures of this world, but to store up treasures in heaven – to seek everlasting riches. We are also encouraged to pursue the Kingdom of God like a field filled with buried treasure. Jesus said that we should sell all we have to obtain the riches of the Kingdom.
King Solomon exhorted his son to seek wisdom, understanding and insight like it was hidden treasure. He considered wisdom to be true wealth, as it leads to the knowledge of God.
I don’t know about you, but I am not as passionate about finding hidden treasure as Mel Fisher was. I am referring to true treasure: the riches of the Kingdom. I want to have the same kind of optimism, perseverance and reckless abandonment toward seeking the true riches of the Kingdom that Mel Fisher had toward the riches of this world.
I think the greatest treasure of the Kingdom is God Himself. If we seek Him we will find Him if we seek Him wholeheartedly. And with the discovery of God Himself we obtain all that is in His heart toward us – His Kingdom. Righteousness, peace, joy, faith, hope, strength, healing, wisdom, understanding, discernment, and myriad other valuables to enrichen our lives.
However, the true riches of the Kingdom take effort to discover. We must seek first His Kingdom like buried treasure.
The hidden treasure of the Kingdom is worth our very best effort.
Matthew 13:44
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Proverbs 2:1-5
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Proverbs 25:2
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”