Issue 1539 – Flakes of Mica – August 31, 2024
This morning, I opted to rerun an old issue. There will be no Gleanings on Monday. The original accompanying image has been lost in cyberspace, but this material is close to the best of my recollection.
This issue holds the record for the most requests for reprints in the original run of Gleanings. I don’t recall the exact numbers, but they were surprisingly high.
Kathy and I sat at a roadside pullout high in the mountains of British Columbia. We had stopped for breakfast about a half hour before, and this spot on the mountaintop seemed like the perfect place to do our morning devotions.
Kathy grabbed a chair and her Bible and went off in one direction; I grabbed a chair, my Bible, and Genni the Wonder Dog and then went a little way off. Genni settled in at my feet as I read of mountains in the Old Testament, seated looking across the valley at more rocky mountaintops.
The setting was ideal and a great place to commune with God. When I was done, I set my Bible down and took Genni for a short stroll.
As we walked, we came across a rock pile that some road crew had cleaned off the road from a small rockslide. The pile glistened in the bright morning sunlight as the sun reflected off the large mica flakes on the rocks.
Fascinated, I picked up a large piece of mica and examined it closely. It comprised many layers, each reflecting the sun, but each peeled away like onionskin, soon leaving me holding only a dull, worthless rock.
It struck me that much of our lives are spent chasing flakes of Mica. We hunt for valuable treasures, shiny bits of precious metals, little nuggets of knowledge, possessions, status, and recognition. They seem so attractive when we have them in our hands, but in the end, they all peel away, leaving us empty and holding nothing of more value than a chunk of rock.
It’s no wonder Scripture admonishes us to look for things of eternal value that will hold up and last forever.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
What will hold up in eternity? A personal relationship with Jesus, sharing His love with others, meeting the needs of those around us, acts of obedience and worship, prayer, and praise will all stand the test.
When you stand in front of Him at the seat of judgment, will you bring an offering of great value from a lifetime of service in His name or stand before Him holding a worthless chunk of stone?
Until next time, remember that it is never too early or too late to begin storing those treasures in heaven. If you haven’t done so or drifted away for a while, it’s time to start.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)