Where Your Treasure Is - 4/24/17
Harry had been coming to church pretty regularly. The Preacher noticed as September rolled around that Harry hadn't been seen on Sunday nights and was rushing out quickly after service in the morning. Figuring he knew the reason, the Preacher met Harry at the door before he could rush out and asked him where he'd been. Harry said, "Preacher, I really would like to be here, but I just can't miss the big game every week." The Preacher said, "Harry, you know that's what recorders are for." Harry got really excited at this and asked the Preacher, "So you mean I can record your sermons?"
This story is funny and I'm not the first to tell it, but it does tell us a simple truth:
Oftentimes it's the things we treasure that cause us the most pain.
Consider Jesus:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."
-- John 1:1-2
Jesus Christ came from the beginning, He has always existed. He has been alongside God and been God forever. Only He and the angels know what it is like to be in the presence of God. When He came to earth, He kept His close relationship with God through prayer.
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
-- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself, and in that moment God turned His back on His son. Jesus Christ suffered complete separation from God, and only He knows what it is truly like.
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabacthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
-- Matthew 27:46
I take one simple lesson from this; Jesus Christ felt the pain of losing His relationship with God more clearly than all of the physical pain He endured. We know the physical pain was tremendous, but the mental and spiritual agony of being separated from God drowned all the physical pain out.
I'm going to amend my statement from earlier,
I'm going to amend my statement from earlier,
It's the things we treasure that cause us the most pain when we lose them.
What are you treasuring the most?
Is it money? Is it fame? Is it success? Is it your house? Is it your car?
Here is the truth, the things in this world fade away.
Money runs out. Fame is fleeting. Success is intermittent. Houses are destroyed. Cars break down
But the greater truth is this; The Word of God Endures.
Jesus Christ suffered an agonizing temporary loss of God's presence so we don't have to feel that forever.
So I'll ask again, what are you treasuring?! If the answer is not Jesus Christ, then something needs to change.
Is it money? Is it fame? Is it success? Is it your house? Is it your car?
Here is the truth, the things in this world fade away.
Money runs out. Fame is fleeting. Success is intermittent. Houses are destroyed. Cars break down
But the greater truth is this; The Word of God Endures.
Jesus Christ suffered an agonizing temporary loss of God's presence so we don't have to feel that forever.
So I'll ask again, what are you treasuring?! If the answer is not Jesus Christ, then something needs to change.
-Jacob