Treasures

Have you ever been asked “Where do you live?”

Childhood home on Olympia Street '59 — Childhood home on Olympia Street in Chicago, Illinois.

That question often came up when I was a young child … neighborhood children ask this question to find out if my house was near enough so that they could come visit without having to ask their mother or father.

Even as an adult we often ask “Where do you live?” Sometimes the answer is a physical street address and sometimes it is a city, or a county, or a country. But it is guaranteed that we all live somewhere.

One of the most unusual houses I have seen is the one pictured below, near Willow, Alaska. It was visible from the train ride as we made our way to Denali National Park. Looking at the vista, you might think you were looking at a cell tower rather than a house. It stands tall … over the neighboring trees.

Alaska - 7 layer house in woods (C) — View from Alaska Railroad on trip to the Denali National Park.

A close up of the house reveals that it is, in fact, a structure made up of at least 7 “houses”, built on top of each other, above the surrounding forest.

Alaska - Dr Seuss Tower House outside Denali - close up (C) — Close up view of “The Dr. Seuss House” outside Willow, Alaska.

According to the locals, the 12-story house stands above the surrounding trees with each “house” stacked so that it appears to be either an afterthought or a layer on a very tall cake. The owner built the house after a forest fire, and the house originally had views of Mount Denali (former Mount McKinley) as well as the neighboring Denali National Park. However, as nature will do, trees regrow after a fire and, as a result, the owner lost the view that he prized so dearly. So, not being a quitter, he added more and more stories to his house. The result is the 12-story tower that appears to be another tall tree in the forest, at least it did from the train! The locals call it “The Dr. Seuss Tower House”. [There is an aerial video of the house as well as some photographs of the entire building in an article written by Alexa Carrasco, dated April 7, 2015, and found at http://www.curbed.com/2015/4/7/9972998/dr-seuss-willow-alaska-house.]

Where do you live?

For the Christian, the answer to that question is not just our physical address or city in which we reside. While that information is a correct answer to the inquiry, it is not the definitive statement of where our true ultimate home is.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus says:

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

So, where is your home? Here or there?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

“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.

So, where is your treasure? Here or there?

An old country gospel hymn says, in part:

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through.

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door;

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like You.

If Heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door;

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

We have a job to do on this spinning planet called Earth; we are here to do the Lord’s work. He has commissioned His people to witness to others about His life, death, resurrection, ascension and intercession for us before the Father. We are to tell others of His sacrifice on the cross so that His righteousness could be applied to those who come to Him in faith and believe in Him, following His commandments and loving others as He loved us. We are to present the gospel when the opportunity is made available to us.

We cannot just sit and pine for our home in Glory. In short, we should not be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good!

But, we also should not have a strangle-hold on this world and its treasures because they are only temporary. They will not go into eternity with us. The Psalmist knew this truth!

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

Psalm 49:16-17.

Our treasures are to be with the Lord, while we are temporary residents of this world.

So, where do you live? Where is your house?

However, the far more important questions are: Where is your home? Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

Father, I pray that I would keep my eyes on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, rather than on this world and the lure of money, position, power, ease, etc. I pray that the Holy Spirit would attune my heart to His song and that I would look for the places that He wants me to go and do that which He directs. May my treasures and my heart be in Heaven, through Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Remembering a childhood over half a century ago (okay, I am legitimately old at least in my children’s opinion), we could ride bikes throughout the city without fear. No mobile phone, no texting, no lunch!

We find Mayberry’s Andy and Opie humorous and we remember when life was like “Leave it to Beaver” – generally carefree and congenial. But that was then, not now. Security seems to be something that we long for and search after more these days than ever before. For good reason, some would argue … more violent crimes; more terrorist activity; more drug related crimes; more … and the list could go on ad nauseum.

I don’t know if there is actually “more” of these activities than in the past, but I do know that these events are more readily visible now. We have our cell phones and ipods with built in cameras that take video of offending activity as it occurs – no matter where in the world it is taking place. Yes, it seems that there is more reason for security measures than in the past.

We can have guard dogs to attack anyone trying to get into our home. (Okay, Cuddles is hardly the sterling example of a guard dog as she is reclining on her heart pillow, but if there was an intruder ….!)

We can hire security firms to put locks and sensors on the doors and windows of the house. We put our valuables in safe deposit boxes. We put our money at the bank. We go to the doctor even though we know that the body is aging and that there is a limit to what medicine can do.

In Matthew 6:19, Jesus tells us that we should not focus on gathering treasures here on earth where they are only temporary. Rather, we should lay up treasures in heaven. In short, eternal treasures trump earthly ones every time! In verse 25 Jesus says that we should not be anxious about our life—what we should eat or drink or about what we should wear.

In giving these illustrations, Jesus has covered the waterfront of necessities – food, drink, and clothing. He then says that God knows we need such things. If we are not to be anxious over necessities, we certainly should not be anxious over the frivolous add-ons that take up so much of our attention.

Our job is to focus on putting our treasures in the kingdom of God. We are to seek His kingdom and His righteousness … and the rest will be added to us from God. Matthew 6:25-34.

The writer of Proverbs says “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25) I suggest that many of us can verify the truth of this statement!

Paul says: “[D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. If we do this, verse 6 promises that we will the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we ignore what we need or what situation or circumstance faces us; we just are not to stress over it.

Do we want security? I suggest that we rest in God’s arms. Lose the anxiety and worry; the fret and cares. Hand them to God through prayer and then let Him exchange your cares for His peace. Focus on His kingdom, rather than this world.

Snickers asleep on Daddy's lap. — Snickers asleep on Daddy’s lap.

I realize that no analogy is foolproof and I don’t want this to be misunderstood – but when I visualize resting in God’s arms, I can’t help but see it illustrated in our canine children. Snickers falls asleep, and snores, when laying on my husband’s lap – tummy fully exposed and head dropped back with eyes virtually glued shut. Vulnerable? Yes. Relaxed? Yes. Scared? No. She is secure in the arms of one who loves her and will care for her.

So, the question is — do you trust in things of this world, or in the God who created this world?

Where do you find your security?