Meaningless flash compared to real treasure
We sat at a roadside pullout high in a mountain pass in British Columbia (The Messier Summit). We had stopped for breakfast about a half hour before, and here on the mountaintop seemed to be 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 the dog and went a little way off. Genni, the wonder dog, settled at my feet as I read about mountains in the Old Testament, seated and looking across the valley at more rocky mountaintops.
The setting was ideal for communing with God. When I was done, I set my Bible down and took the dog for a short stroll.
As we walked, we came across a rock pile that some road crew had cleared from the road after a small rockslide. The pile glistened in the bright morning sunlight as the sun reflected off large flakes of mica and pyrite on the rocks.
Fascinated, I picked up a large piece of mica and examined it closely. It was made up of many layers, each of which reflected the sun, but each of which peeled away like onion skin, soon leaving me holding but a dull, worthless rock. The pyrites had me dreaming of gold.
It struck me that much of our lives are spent in chasing flakes of mica or worthless pyrite. We hunt for valuable treasures, shiny bits of precious metals, for little nuggets of knowledge, for possessions, for status and for recognition. They seem so attractive when we have them in our hand, 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, things that will hold up and last forever.
“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 treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
What holds 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?
It’s never too early or too late to begin storing up those treasures in heaven. If you haven’t done so, or you drifted away for a while, it’s time to begin.
Kevin
SUMMARY
I picked up a piece of mica on a BC mountainside and watched it peel apart into nothing in my hand. It’s a picture of how much of life we spend chasing things that dazzle for a moment and leave us empty.
TAKEAWAY
What you’re chasing today can look valuable in your hand and still turn out worthless the moment you’re holding it.
A relationship with Jesus, obedience, and prayer are what actually hold up under eternity.
You’ll stand before Him holding either something of real value or nothing at all.
