TTA Takeover: Sharon Hisler

STP Devotional for the Week of 10/26/26

The Staff Show of Treasure Island is an adaptation of the classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The script follows young Jim Hawkins on a perilous journey as he is confronted by bloodthirsty pirates while on a search for the buried treasure of the infamous Captain Flint. Along the way Jim and his family face mutiny and treachery from some of the crew of the Hispaniola and especially Long John Silver. Jim ultimately confronts the old leathery pirate about the truth of God and where our true treasure lies!

Mrs. Pam and I have read the script many, many times, as do all of you when preparing for your show. In my reading, it seemed like there were a few lines that just jumped off the page at me as reminders and lessons and those are the ones I want to share with you today.

If you come to see the show, you will see a cross-stitch picture hanging on the wall of the Benbow Inn. Proverbs 15:6 - “The House of Righteousness Contains Great Treasure.” Righteousness describes someone’s conduct in relation to others, especially God. A righteous person is described in the Bible as someone who is right with God and trusts in Him. It is not possible to become right with God on our own. True righteousness is only possible through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” - 2 Corinthians 5:21. This is what many call the Great Exchange. On the cross, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so one day when we stand before God. He won’t see our sin but only the holy righteousness of our Lord Jesus. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we receive this precious treasure - the gift of God’s righteousness! I am thankful for this daily reminder.

Although Jim, his mother, and aunt were a righteous God-fearing family they too became distracted by material treasure. This happens and we must be alert to this temptation. Jim dreams of adventure and treasure BUT when he is alone on Treasure Island, he sings a song called, Jim’s Prayer. Here are some of the words -

“All my life I have sought a treasure Island and the riches of my dreams. So, I’m here now and it is clear now, it’s not all that it seems. Chasing dreams most every day, but as I'm

racing and madly chasing, I’ve somehow lost my way.”

So, when faced with danger, Jim realized the most important things. Another lesson for us is to not wait until God has to get our attention to come to that same realization. Family is a very important theme that runs throughout the show and it is a wonderful gift from God, but our salvation in Jesus Christ will always be our greatest treasure.

The pirates obviously don’t think so and they are consumed with the search for Captain Flint’s treasure map and ultimately the chest of gold. Years before one of the pirates named Pew was blinded in a fight with Flint. In the search for the treasure he makes this remarkable comment, “Leave it to a blind man to see what was in yer plain sight!” When I read that line I was immediately reminded of the story in John 9 of the Pharisees and the young boy who was blind from birth. The Pharisees were physically healthy but so spiritually blind to the truth that they could not accept the miracle of Jesus restoring the boy’s sight. If they did, they would also have to accept that Jesus was truly God. In the story, these pirates have no interest in spiritual things. Later in the show, one of the pirates tells Jim that she doesn’t need “no preachin.” There are many in our world who have no interest in the Truth. We must pray and ask God for opportunities to share the Gospel.

I am not going to give away the whole story between Jim and Long John Silver, but there is a time when Silver betrays Jim’s trust. But when the pirates turn on Silver, the only chance he and Jim have to survive is to work together. Jim shares this line with Long John, “only God can save us now, and if he chooses to save us, don’t you think it would be a sign for a change of course?

Jim shows that he learned his lesson about the emptiness of worldly treasure when he sings, “I’ve learned a chase for treasure is not everything it seems. Yes, a change of course and sincere remorse is a better way for a castaway to be set free. Though the breezes blow around us and the voyage has its strife, the only course to follow is the one that brings us Life!

I hope that this brief look into some of the lessons and reminders of the Treasure Island show will get you excited to come watch it and invite others who may need a change of course.

Verses on which to meditate!

Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”

Verse 2 - Proverbs 10:2: “Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Verse 3 - Isaiah 33:5-6: “God will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the love of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”

Verse 4 - Proverbs 2:1-6: “My child…if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the love of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from this mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”