The aftermath of Hurricane Ian has left our area with so many piles of debris. It seems that every home has something piled up next to the curb. The piles contain an assortment of household furnishings, appliances, and the ruined remains of personal property. Residents can stand outside and sadly view the piled-up remnants of a lifetime of memories.
Our situation with debris is not unique. The Bible mentions a parable that Jesus told of a man who had plenty of this world’s goods. To store more things, he decided that he would tear down his existing barns, thereby creating a pile of debris. He then would build bigger barns so that he could accumulate more. Luke 12:19-20 tells what happened: “And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” The point Jesus was making is simple. If we spend our lives accumulating things, one day all those things will end up in a pile of debris. If we have no thoughts about God and our spiritual lives, we will come to the end of our lives with heaven telling us that we too are fools because we were not rich toward God.
Where is your treasure? Is it in your home? Is it in your vehicles, or your household furnishings? This hurricane has shown us clearly that our possessions can be blown away and destroyed in a flash. Our things can very well end up in a pile of debris, waiting to be taken to the dump. But we can obtain treasure that will last. By building our life on a relationship with Jesus Christ, serving Him faithfully, and living for Him daily, this becomes our real treasure. Jesus said that nothing can destroy this treasure we have laid up in heaven, not moth, nor rust, not even Hurricane Ian.