The theme verse provides instructions for LIVING REAL LIFE. 1 Timothy 6:19 makes it clear, taking hold of that which is truly life requires a foundation made of something precious, made of treasure.

Jesus describes a treasure that when discovered the finder sells all they have so they can buy the field where the treasure was buried in order to take ownership of it. (Matthew 13:44-46) This treasure is Christ Himself, and His worth is the solid foundation for LIVING REAL LIFE.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:6b describes this treasure as "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus" and the Spirit shines this glorious truth into our hearts.

In the absence of Christ, our hearts are, as John Calvin writes, "idol making factories". The world does its best to market and advertise the passing pleasures of sin, the allure of immediate gratification, ascribing great worth to things that simply breakdown, rust and decay.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21 that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." And so, a generation of youth lost to worthless obsessions of the heart and fixations of the mind is precisely what's at stake.

It is when the light of Jesus shines in our hearts, that we are transformed, made new, to become vessels of honour for this precious treasure.

May we hold this treasure within us as jars of clay, earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7). Weak as we are, fragile and breakable, the honour of "Christ in us" (Colossians 1:27) proves that the power is of God, and not ourselves.

Our prayer is that the "treasures" of this world would be seen for what they are, obsolete and insignificant, and that with Christ as our treasure, we are truly LIVING REAL LIFE

.