Treasure Hunters
I don’t know why my brain is random some days, but this week sitting at work, I decided to google this question: “Who is the greatest treasure hunter?”
The name Mel Fisher popped up. He earned the title after discovering the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha treasure off the Florida Keys, worth an estimated 450 million dollars.
After a few more clicks, I discovered Mel Fisher began as a chicken farmer here in Indiana. That’s right, the greatest treasure hunter of all time was a fellow Hoosier!
But how? I didn’t expect a chicken farmer from Indiana to pop up. I pictured a guy that looked like Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, not old McDonald, who had a farm.
You don’t go from swatting chickens away from a nest and stealing their eggs to discovering millions without some plan.
Well, Mr. Fisher died in December of 1998, but if we could interview him today, I think two words would stand out: desire and determination.
One website described Mel Fisher as a dreamer and a visionary. He graduated from Purdue University and eventually left Hoosier country for California, where he started a diving business called “See the Sea.”
At some point in Mel’s life, maybe on the chicken farm, but probably scuba diving out west, a desire sparked in him to search for treasure. No doubt that desire faced some resistance, but he pressed on.
Mr. Fisher explored the ocean’s depths propelled by this motto, “Today is the Day.”
You and I are to be treasure hunters as well.
But, before you abandon your chickens, or put your pirate patch over your eye, let me clarify.
God has given us a treasure; His Word. He tells us in Proverbs 2:4-5 that if we search the depths of His Word as a hidden treasure, we will find understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.
If thou seekest her as silver,
And searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD giveth wisdom:
Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
What keeps us from becoming great treasure hunters of the Bible?
I believe it’s a lack of desire and determination.
We allow our desires to be satisfied by lesser pleasures, and our determination wanes at the first sign of resistance.
Imagine if Mel Fisher would have quit, satisfied to find a quarter on the ocean floors. What if he abandoned the ship and went back to chicken farming because he had a bad day.
He wouldn’t be the greatest treasure hunter of all time.
Likewise, settling for a quick read of a few verses won’t unlock the treasures of wisdom God’s Word offers. Quitting because it’s “tough” to study God’s Word is playing right into the hands of Satan, who wants to keep hidden the treasures of God’s Word.
Our study of God’s Word is to our soul what food is to our body. It fuels us and strengthens us to face life and serve God.
Soon after Mr. Fisher found that treasure, he was in court battles with the state of Florida to keep it. Everyone wanted a piece of this treasure. While he was able to keep the majority of it, he couldn’t avoid the greatest thief of all; death.
In 1998 Mr. Fisher took his last breath on this earth and left all of his treasure behind.
Our treasures are eternal. Our discoveries only are confirmed and glorified in death.
How do you approach God’s Word each day?
Is reading the Bible a duty to be accomplished or a treasure exploration?
I pray that the podcast and newsletter are tools to help you discover the treasures of God’s Word.
Let’s be treasure hunters!
Let’s approach God’s Word with the motto of Mel Fisher, “Today’s the Day.”
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