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Mar 24, 2024 06:00am

Sinking Sand

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For my husband’s Christmas gift this year, I purchased tickets for him and I to attend a play.

Last Friday night, it was time to cash in his tickets and enjoy the show. It was a new play to both of us, but proved to be very fun. We were laughing all the way…you could say.

Then came time for the drive home. As Missouri weather would have it the temperature was below freezing and it snowed the whole way. A winter storm that had initially not been predicted and or were the roads prepared for.

Though the Bible instructs not to worry as it does not add a single hour to your life, as my husband drove through what looked like a continually shaken snow globe, I began to worry.

What if our tires slide?
What if our car breaks down and we freeze in the cold?
What if we get into an accident?

In the middle of my journey through “What-If-Ville”, it hit me.

The same icy cold water causing my angst was the same icy cold water that kids would get up early the next day to play in and enjoy.

Then I had an even deeper thought. Whether the source of anxiety or joy, one thing was true of this snow, it and its effects would be temporary.

It was at this moment, the Holy Spirit brought to mind 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 which says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

If we’re being honest, more than an inconvenient and unknown drive home, we go through affliction in this life. Affliction that feels as if it will and or is lasting forever. Which in turn becomes, affiliation that causes us to question if God has forgotten us or if he still cares.

Notice the passage in 2 Corinthians reminds us that any affliction we face in this life is momentary and light compared to the joy that is coming when we reach eternity.

The word “is” here implies fact; an absolute to take hope in when affliction feels like a crushing weight you feel you cannot bear for one more day.

If you’re currently going through a time of affliction may I encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2.) With Jesus in focus may you be able to shift your mind to the eternal glory that is coming in heaven. May this provide rest for your weary soul.

Maybe you’re not going through a time of affliction; maybe all circumstances in your life point to happy emotions and fill you with positivity as you look to the future. You relate more to the kids playing in the snow than you do the anxious person driving in it.

May I warn you, to remain focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith?

The Bible is clear in the book of Ecclesiastes, that to everything there is a time and a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Furthermore, Jesus instructs in the gospels, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

As humans, we’re bent to allow our circumstances to dictate not only our emotions, but outlook on life as a whole.

Just like when afflicted we have a tendency to feel bad and have a poor outlook, when circumstances in life are good we not only feel happy, but are tempted to hope in those things.

As a former pastor’s wife of mine used to say, “Happy moves.” Does this mean we cannot invest in anything earthly? Work, relationships, possessions, etc.?

Certainly not. The key here is being careful not to place too much stock in those things. In order to do this, we must ask the Lord to help us determine where our true treasure is.

I’ve found over the years I struggle when people are no longer in my life in the capacity they used to be. While grieving of relationships is part of the human experience, and in fact is something Jesus did, we must be careful to not make people our treasure more than Jesus is our treasure.

When Jesus is our treasure in the context of relationships we are able to thank him for the blessings the person added to our lives, but are also able to release the person back to him knowing He is the one who steadies us.

Jesus being our treasure in the context of work means working heartily as if we are working unto the Lord as well as knowing he is the one who provides for our needs whether we get a raise or not.

Jesus being our treasure in the context of possessions means not holding onto anything more tightly than we hold on to him. Seeking first his kingdom and trusting that all things will be added to us as we obey.

No matter where you’re at in life today, may I encourage you to put circumstances out of view, and make Jesus the foundation on which you stand and focus your mind and heart. Truly, he is the only one who can steady you through all the highs and lows; all other ground is sinking sand. (Matthew 13:22)