By Jon Beaty
When I was a young boy, my father became captivated by the legend of the Lost Dutchman and his hidden gold. According to legend, the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine lies hidden somewhere in Arizona's Superstition Mountains, named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz—"The Dutchman"—who took his secret to the grave in 1891. What lent credibility to this tale was the remarkably high-grade gold ore found in a candle box under Waltz's deathbed. My father would spend hours studying maps and reading every account he could find, fantasizing about discovering that lost treasure.
My father never discovered the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine or the hidden gold. Like many, he never pursued his dream. But what if he had found the gold, reburied it for safety, and passed away without claiming its wealth?
Gold has captivated humanity throughout history. Perhaps you have some tucked away for emergencies—coins in a safe or jewelry passed down through generations. But here's a vital truth about gold: it holds no value until you trade it or invest it. A chest of gold buried in your backyard enriches no one. Its power lies not in possession but in purposeful use.
This principle extends far beyond earthly treasures. Followers of Jesus are called to invest a far more precious gold—the spiritual treasure Christ offers in Revelation 3:18: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich." Unlike the Lost Dutchman's elusive treasure, this gold is readily available to every believer. The question isn't whether we can find it, but whether we'll invest it wisely.
The Laodicean Portfolio
After Daniel's 2,300-day prophecy concluded in 1844, Jesus' disciples became the prophetic church of Laodicea. We have accumulated substantial spiritual assets, yet Jesus observes: "You say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17).
Jesus' offer of "gold refined by fire" represents His pure, self-sacrificing
righteousness—both imputed and imparted to us through faith by grace. Many people claim righteousness by faith, then do nothing with it. It bears no fruit in their lives. They bury this treasure, expecting to present it as their ticket to heaven when Jesus returns. Their great disappointment will mirror that of the unfaithful servant in Christ's parable of the talents—the one who buried his master's gift and was cast into outer darkness, sharing the fate of the lukewarm Laodicean church that Jesus threatens to "vomit out of His mouth" (Matthew 25:14-30; Revelation 3:16).
The parable of the talents teaches the Laodicean church another crucial lesson: If we claim to have received Jesus' righteousness yet refuse to love those around us, we remain "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10). Jesus reclaims His gold from unfaithful servants. Too many believers are hoarding spiritual treasure instead of investing it in others' lives.
The Missing Congregation
A troubling symptom of this spiritual hoarding appears in our membership records. In our Sandy church—and across the Oregon Conference—approximately 70% of recorded members are absent from Sabbath services. We know some of these people personally: neighbors, family members, friends. Disconnected from the body of Christ, they become easy prey for the enemy. If we know where they are, what efforts are we making to invest our spiritual wealth in helping them reconnect with Jesus?
Christ's description of the shepherd who leaves his flock to find one lost sheep provides a model every faithful Christian should follow. Despite the church's flaws, it remains God's crucible for refining spiritual gold—the place where believers practice selfless love, engage in corporate fellowship, study, worship, and reach out to their communities.
The Great Commission's Math
Over eight billion people inhabit this planet. One Seventh-day Adventist exists for every 350 people. God desires that all people come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). We cannot afford to be spiritual gold hoarders, accumulating knowledge and doctrine while failing to invest it in those around us. The church exists as much for people outside its “doors” as for those within.
A Call to Action
The treasure you've been given isn't meant to remain buried. Like physical gold that enriches no one while hidden in the ground, spiritual gold hoarded brings no return on God's investment in your life. The righteousness of Christ dwelling within you is meant to flow outward—to that missing church member you know, to your unchurched neighbor, to the coworker searching for meaning.
Will you join the ranks of faithful stewards who multiply their Master's treasure? Will you step beyond the comfortable pew to seek the lost sheep Christ so desperately loves? The gold refined by fire awaits your investment. Your community—both within the church and beyond its doors—awaits the transforming power of Christ's love expressed through your willing hands and heart.
The question isn't whether the treasure is real or available. The question is: What will you do with heaven's gold today?