we take nothing

recently, i have been thinking a lot about earthly stuff.  i need some reminders, so i write this to myself.  i meant to share this a while back, but maybe there is a reason i didn't until now.

it was the end of july. i left the 100 degree hot humid days of the southern sun to head west, to california, greeted by comfy 70 degree weather, the cool pacific ocean and mornings of ocean-side fog. i passed the glorious in 'n out burger (why can't they go nationwide already?!), headed a few blocks north to arrive at my grandparent's house.

pulling up in the driveway, things look like they have all my life.  i could paint it by memory.  the front flower bed is full, probably with more weeds than usual, the grass is soft and green, a new fence is up, and the front door is painted just as blue as ever.

i open that blue door and smell the comfort right away.  there's always something so precious about the familiarity of grandma and grandpa's house, it is comfortable, it is home.  for a girl who grew up never living in the same house for more than a few years, it is the only place that remained the same.

until now. this time it is different. my grandfather is no longer here. i traveled 3,000 miles to attend his funeral. it feels like he is here, i go to the back closet and see his shoes lining the floor, his shirts and pants hang clean and unwrinkled. his license and wallet are in a drawer. his wedding ring is in my grandmother's purse.  all these items that gave him at least an earthly identity are here and remain untouched.  it hit me like a ton of bricks.  something i know to be true and base my life on.

the earth is not our home.  

and we take nothing with us, not even the things that identify us here, when we go.

i watched this reality play out when my dad passed away.  i was nine and saw all his possessions get divvied up.  but that was over seventeen years ago.

it's easy to lose sight of eternity in the here and now, lightning speed of this world. however, i'm certain Christ is bidding us to be rid of earthly possessions, to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20, ESV)." because "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21 ESV)."  Christ wants our hearts set on Him and eternity.

as Christians, i think we know this, but sometimes there is a disconnect.  we read this in the Word in our devotion time or on Sunday mornings, yet spend hours on pinterest looking for things we want, things we are going to make, or things we want to fill our houses and lives with.  (i'm not saying pinterest is wrong. ha!  not at all.)  how do we keep eternity in our mind and set our eyes on Heaven?  letting go of earthly wants?

i think it is a battle of our mind.  we have to be renewed by the Word.  we have to love Jesus more than things (anything!), even our families.  and thankfully, because we are full of evil and wants, there is grace that covers us.

Pin It