These posts and a mostly demolished brick building are all that remain of a once-thriving logging industry and the community it supported. Fortunes were made here, and lives lived. People were born and died. Eventually, the posts will be gone, and all that will remain of the building is an ever-shrinking pile of rubble. It served its purpose and was gone.
There are many such places all over the world. Some are remembered in name only. Some are not remembered at all. Entire civilizations have come and gone, leaving nothing behind but a few artifacts, if that.
These ghost towns and sites were once the focal point of people’s lives. For some, perhaps a few years; for others, generations. Yet virtually everything is gone.
Things don’t last forever. That’s the way it is with the material things of the world.
It’s why Jesus said,
“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
We are beings created in the image of God. The physical bodies we have now wont’ last. Eventually, we die physically. Yet we live on forever, either in resurrected bodies to enjoy God forever or designed to withstand eternal punishment and separation from God.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism reminds us that the chief purpose of humanity is “to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” We were built for far greater things than earthly pleasures and treasure.
We take nothing of this physical world with us. We know that, but somehow, we find ourselves lusting after the things that don’t last. We store up our treasures here in this life, where eventually they will be long gone, and we’ll be long forgotten by those left behind.
Who is remembered among all those who have gone before us? Very few, even after a generation or two. Where are the things they chased?
They are gone and forgotten here, but not by God. He knows each of them and loves them. He accepted their choice to be with Him or to reject Him.
After you are gone, what will remain? Where are your true treasures? Our treasure is in Him. We were created to be in relationship with Him forever. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but the word of God and its author will remain.
Are you building something that will endure or simply a pile of rubble?
Be blessed
Kevin
