Clothesline - Edition 212

By Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson, Pastor

August 7, 2024  

What do you treasure?

Because I live far from my children and grandchildren, I treasure the photos that are on the wall of my office. When I look up from the computer, their smiling faces are everywhere. Since Joel has retired, I think he’d say he treasures every minute he gets to spend in his garage, building his Bronco. With the Olympics on every television channel, all day…every day…one is bound to have seen at least one podium with three Olympiads being awarded the treasured medal for which they had competed. Treasures. There are many, but those that I’ve mentioned could be gone in the blink of an eye. If there was ever a fire in my home, my treasured photos would be gone. The same with Joel’s Bronco. A severe hurricane could destroy everything he’s spent years to build. And what about those Olympic medals? They too could be damaged, stolen or even lost if the right circumstances happened.

There are many perishable things we treasure and that’s not a bad thing. But what about those things that are imperishable? Is there anything that lasts forever? Absolutely, and the answer comes straight from the lips of Jesus Himself.

In Matthew’s Gospel we have Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount…two and a half chapters of wisdom, and half-way through his profound teaching, Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I think about that often. Jesus spoke those words to a people who had very little possessions, and what they had, they surely treasured. But Jesus is telling them what tangible things they have are worth nothing, compared to what awaits them in heaven. And he says the same thing to us today.

I believe we see glimpses of imperishable treasure every day. It’s in close relationships, a kind word to someone in need, a bag of clothes taken to a shelter, a listening ear to someone who is alone, a child’s loving smile, a newborn baby held in the arms of his mother for the first time. Imperishable treasures setting us up for what lies ahead in our heavenly home. That works for me! I hope and pray it works for you as well!