Precious Moments That Count For EternitySample

To Dust We Return

A tent, by its definition, is a temporary shelter or home. In today’s verse, it is used to depict our earthly body, which is as long-lived as our stay here on earth. While on earth, our soul and spirit reside in their temporary dwelling, our physical being. They will pass on into eternity, leaving this ‘tent’ behind, and with it all the material wealth we have gained.
Even Alexander the Great seemed to have realized this. He requested his generals to scatter all his amassed treasure on the way to the cemetery, so that people would know that material wealth acquired on earth stays on earth!
Most of us, who choose to ignore eternity and its reality, toil and sweat to lay up treasures on earth. Some of us take the easy way out and even usurp others’ hard-earned money. We feel that wealth and possessions are our safety shields, and will help us overcome all travails in life.
But the Lord says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV). If we know this one truth and are always aware of it, we will live out our time on this earth differently. Material possessions, social positions, professional one-upmanship will cease to become ‘idols’ in our lives. Instead, we will run after the treasures of heaven.
This is, however, not to say that we disregard the wellness of the ‘tent’. Like we maintain the houses we live in, we need to also keep our bodies, which are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 6:19), clean and healthy.

Prayer
Lord, teach us to be focused on eternity, and not be overly occupied with earthly possessions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.