Ancient Words For Today - 68
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21
The truth of this verse was dramatically etched in our hearts on the day when an out-of-control field fire, fanned by strong winds, was racing over the hills towards our home. As my wife and I watched the rapidly approaching flames reflected against the billowing clouds of smoke and ash, we realized that our home and all of our worldly possessions might perish in a very short time.
As we observed our neighbors quickly loading their vehicles with televisions sets, stereo equipment, expensive home furnishings, art objects and other valuables, we began to consider what the most important things were for us to take with us. Actually, deciding was much easier than we might have imagined. We loaded up family photo albums, tax records, some spare clothing and our Bibles, and waited with our dog in anticipation of receiving an evacuation order. In the end, the wind direction changed, moving the course of the consuming fire away from our home.
Our home was spared that day, for which we were thankful. We also gained a valuable insight - that very few material things were really important to us. Even if we lost everything, we knew that God was with us and that He would provide for us everything that we had need of. We were not terrified at the prospect of starting over. Rather, we were comforted with the knowledge that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us supremely and Jesus, our Savior, who sacrificed everything, including His life, so that we could dwell with them for eternity. We did not always have this perspective, but after becoming Christians, our hearts had been changed by God so that our real treasure no longer consisted of earthly things that will one day perish, but rather of Heavenly things that are eternal.
Paul wrote to the Colossian church, and to believers everywhere, instructing them concerning the proper focus of their affections:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. From Colossians 3:1-7
Dear Lord, help us to keep focused on Heavenly things and on those works which you have called us and prepared us to do on earth, for your glory. Amen.