Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Luke 12:33b-34 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
PURSES THAT DON'T WEAR OUT
Eyeglasses. Automobiles. Pencils. Carpet. What do these things have in common? They all wear out. The eyeglasses break, the automobiles fail to start, the pencils get worn down, and the carpet must be replaced after years of walking over it. The list could be longer too, of course, for everything in this world eventually wears out.
Our health, our wealth, our things--all is like grass that is here one day and the next day is thrown into the fire. Even families are not forever. Children move away. Parents pass away. Life in this world, amid so much change and decay, would be depressing indeed were it not for our treasure in heaven. Jesus teaches us to appreciate that which does not fade away: our eternal life with Him, promised to us and soon to be delivered.
Christ told His disciples to provide for themselves treasure in heaven. How is that done? Whenever we do things that uphold or strengthen our faith, our relationship to Jesus, we are making "purses that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted."
Every earthly thing can be taken away from us, but the things that are unseen, the heavenly things, are eternal. The forgiveness of our sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting--these Jesus gives to us freely and they do not wear out like an old garment. Whatever may pass away and change in this life, the debt we owed for our guilt still stands paid by the blood of Jesus. Whatever may pass away and change in this life, the promise that Christ will come again and take take us to eternal glory will never be exhausted.
I build on this foundation, That Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation, My true, eternal good.
Without Him all that pleases Is valueless on earth;
The gifts I have from Jesus Alone have priceless worth.
(Lutheran Service Book, 724:2)
