Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. Revelation 21:1 NIV
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 NIV
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Who hasn’t felt the earthly joy of new acquisitions – housing, pets, cars, clothes, phones, etc? But with each novelty there is an aftermath – often a whirlwind of peripheral gadgets and a learning curve necessary for optimum use. Inevitably, a final stage arrives and precious objects become junk, a donation, or a keepsake that mystically intertwines with deepest emotions.
Jesus told a poignant parable that speaks to the false security of having more than enough. Some have interpreted the rich farmer in this parable as greedy, but Jesus equates his actions and attitude to worry.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Luke 12:22-23 NIV
This is reality: earthly acquisitions can corrode and choke God’s true life and his inestimable treasure in us. Acquisition as a means to security blocks the joy of knowing Jesus as fully as possible.
MORE Scissors
I’ll go first. Here’s just one example of my personal dilemma: secret anxiety drives me to believe it’s both convenient and secure to store a multitude of scissors around our property. This overage of scissors (and excess of other items) obstructs my view of Jesus’ promise to replace our junked up planet with his pristine New Heaven and Earth.
Many years of acquisition lead to feelings of being entrapped by all my stuff, not just scissors. Making decisions about what to get rid of and what to keep looms like a many headed monster.
Is it too late for a solution? Should I hire a decluttering and organizing service, move out of our house into a tiny home, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK, cancel my Costco membership, and sell our vehicles? I’ll probably do what I’ve always done — put off any such decisions and go shopping. I know I’m not alone in my anxiety predicament.
Maybe I should retitle today’s meditation with a twist on this old adage “You Can’t Take It With You to the New Place”; or the new adage: “Your Kids Don’t Want Your Junk”. Read the above verses again. Ask God to reveal an item or items you own that blocks your vision of His Coming Kingdom. Ask Him what action He wants you to take to more fully experience the joy of those verses.
by Kathleen Petersen
