Every created thing eventually loses its sparkle, but not so the Creator. In him we find the unsearchable riches of Christ.
When I was in my twenties, I enjoyed playing chess and even read a few books on it. I had a friend or two who played and found an occasional computer opponent. But after a few years, my interest waned. Since then I have played a game of chess once a decade.
I could name other interests and pastimes that have come and gone, fascinating for a while, but eventually predictable and even tiresome.
Every created thing eventually loses its sparkle, but not so the one who created all things. The apostle Paul said that the gospel reveals “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8, ESV).
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
In Christ are riches—things that make one rich. The first thing that may come to mind when we think of riches is money and material possessions. Certainly, Christ has an unlimited supply of those and can create more at any time, but there are many other things that make one rich that are far more important than material wealth.
What makes one truly rich are things like knowledge, wisdom, truth, beauty, glory, love, affection, joy, happiness, peace, contentment, goodness, kindness, power, strength, faithfulness, reliability, creativity, protection, safety, provision, supply, comfort, consolation. Christ has all these and more. He is infinitely rich in them.
Unsearchable
“The unsearchable riches of Christ,” wrote Paul. Because the Son of God is God, he is infinite in his virtues, which means his riches are “unsearchable.” You can never touch bottom. You are not just swimming in the deep end of the pool; you are swimming in a pool that has no bottom.
For example, Paul prayed, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–19).
Paul says you can never completely search out the love of Christ. His love is always broader, longer, higher, and deeper than you can know or experience.
Riches of knowledge
The same goes for knowledge. Do you enjoy learning? Scripture says, in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). There is infinitely more knowledge and wisdom in Christ than in the Library of Congress with its 16 million books and 120 million other items, or on all the websites of the internet.
Do you enjoy beauty? Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
The visual beauty and majesty of Christ will satisfy your eyes forever. He himself created the visual beauties of this world as a foretaste of the far greater glory that we will see in him and enjoy for eternity untiringly. If all you did for the rest of eternity was look at Jesus in glory, you would say that was more than enough to give you eternal bliss, that you need nothing more.
Riches of power
Do you enjoy being around power and authority? Paul wrote of the infinite power displayed in Christ when God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:19–23).
Christ has the riches of absolute power. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” he said (Matthew 28:18).
Riches of peace
How about a peaceful kingdom? Isaiah prophesied of Christ, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:6–7).
Riches in the gospel
God revealed all this and more in the gospel. Riches upon riches of mercy, healing, salvation, hope, and assurance. He is more than rich enough to make your soul prosperous. He is wealthy enough to make your heart flourish.
According to the gospel, Christ is nothing less than the Father’s “beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church.
“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:13–22).
This is the gospel of Christ. These are the riches unsearchable.
Our way and God’s way
Our way: Fallen souls resist acknowledging the full riches in Jesus Christ and do not treasure him to the degree they should, if at all. Instead, fallen souls try to find ultimate satisfaction in what God has created.
God’s way: Redeemed souls find ultimate satisfaction in Christ, the creator.
Life principle: The wealthiest people in the world are those who have learned to treasure Jesus Christ above all creation.
Jeremiah 9:23–24: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” (ESV)