This past weekend I had a moving sale, (a yard sale with lots of furniture).... I had been preparing for weeks, going through cupboards, drawers, closets and basement.......so much......stuff! We have been in this home for 20 years and I was married almost 31 years ago so it is incredible to me how we let ourselves gather and keep so much. Quite a bit got thrown out and I still have a mountain of junk in my backyard and basement to have picked up. I was so overwhelmed, but determined to "lighten" my load. The night before the sale the weather said, rain, rain and more rain. I went to my room dropped on my bed and prayed for the Lord's favor. The day arrived and it looked cloudy but before I knew it, the clouds parted and it was sunny all day without a drop of rain. I sold quite a bit too. I had antiques, bookcases galore, tables, chairs, etc..... At one time this "stuff" had a value to me but now it was worthless. My friends would price things and I would sell it for less. I just wanted to see it all gone. People came and I sold for almost nothing what had once been important to me. I was told over and over that I was underselling but I just didn't care. I am selling my 4 bedroom house with finished basement to live in a 2 bedroom apartment so most of it has to go. After the sale I gave the rest to a ministry for refugees. It felt so good to not bring anything back into the house.
I write all this to make a point......what is treasure?.......what is your treasure? To me, relationship holds the key. My relationship with the Lord is my most treasured possession. Matthew 13:44,45 Without Him I have nothing and am nothing. He gives me life, love, peace, joy and purpose. I want to simplify my life so I can give myself to relationship with Him and those around me. Since losing my husband, I see the brevity of life here and I see how John laid his life down for me, the children and the church without a thought for himself. How great a teacher he was to me. He showed me how to love and how to live. And now he is experiencing by God's grace the abounding treasure in heaven where moth and rust cannot decay. No yard sales there.....no need for one.....
"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look the home of God is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them'."
Revelation 21:2,3
Nothing mentioned here about worldly possessions, only God possessing us and we Him. To end I will share a vivid dream I had. In the dream I was dying and I knew it but I was not afraid. So I closed my eyes and felt myself floating upwards with great speed. I came to a very bright place, almost blinding. Then I saw a fire ball as bright as the sun rush at me. When upon me I realized it was a person for they grabbed me, lifted me up and swung me around and hugged me tight. I awoke in the dream to those around me and declared that it was John. The next morning I was at the Sunday meeting and silently asked the Lord if it was true when all of a sudden my eyes fell immediately on this verse...
"And the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" Matthew 13:43
I was stunned and in awe and reverence at His great mercy to me. Oh what treasure we have!! The love of our great Father, His Son and His Holy Spirit......and this treasure lives in us!! Oh, how much richer we are then the wealthiest men on earth!.....
Let go of the "stuff" and hold onto your God.......
