Friday, August 20, 2010
Luke 12:27-28, 33 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? . . . Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."
DON'T WORRY, YOUR TREASURE IS SECURE
Though wildflowers are temporary in the extreme, God decks them in resplendent and exquisite beauty -- in vivid colors that are matchless in brilliance. Think on this, Jesus says, when you are tempted to worry about the necessities of life. Not only is your lifespan far greater than the seasonal wildflower, but God through faith in His Son Jesus has given you life for time and eternity. The Creator of meadows "robed in flowers of blooming spring" has robed every Christ-believer in His Son's own righteousness.
Beautiful as they are, flowers are temporary. Those who in Christ are children of the heavenly Father are permanent members of His family. Surely God will provide for their every bodily need.
But that's not all! Our Father in Christ enables us to use our short time here and the temporary things of this life in a way that has permanent (yes, eternal!) consequences. This happens when we use earthly possessions in the service of Christ our Lord. The gas you put into the tank to go to church or to bring the Word of Life to others is an investment in things eternal "where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." The time you use to grow in Christ and to share His love is truly "time well spent" and becomes a part of your "treasure in heaven." That means that all the money and effort and food and medicine, etc. that lies behind the living of your faith are possessions your Lord is enabling you to put in "purses that will not wear out." Just as what we have in Christ cannot be eroded by rust or stolen by a burglar, so it is with earthly things used in the service of our Savior. This is not "buying heaven"; this is using things temporal and impermanent in connection with matters eternal and permanent.
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
