Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on." "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing." "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse not barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? "And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest."
Luke 12: 22 - 26 NKJV
This week has brought some anxious times for folks here in the Pacific Northwest. A sudden "wind event" combined with hot, dry weather has made for a tinderbox of fire conditions. Currently, there are numerous wildfires burning out of control in Oregon. As I sit here this morning, I am under a "Level 1" evacuation advisory. What this means is that I should be aware that conditions warrant a possible evacuation if they continue to worsen. Less than 20 miles East of me, the city of Estacada was evacuated yesterday afternoon as the Riverside fire approached. One of the first things to consider as I pondered a possible evacuation order was what exactly would I take with me. With not having time nor space to carry all of my possessions, what would I deem important enough to carry along with me? Unfortunately, these are the tough decisions which are being made here in Oregon even as I sit here this morning. Obviously, clothing and a few bare essentials would be included in whatever bug out bag I took with me. Many things are replaceable, but there are things which are not as well. There are a few items of my moms which I hold dear which probably would not make the cut in a emergency. That's just the way it is. Then I got to thinking, what is it that is so valuable to me that I could never leave it behind? If this were a few years ago, I would have claimed a small collection of pornographic magazines to be a vital possession. Now days, beyond personal needs, I would count a few books and vital documents as essential. I believe that this represents a shift in how it is that I now view my own life. For I do not see myself as tied to a few possessions to signify my importance in the world. For I know in my heart the man that I am today. The apostle Paul assures us of this knowing in Galatians. It is Paul who speaks to Christ living in me {Galatians 2:20}. If I, then, am the very essence of the presence of Jesus, what else do I need deem important to survive? In the sermon on the mount, Jesus speaks to those anxieties we feel when faced with a situation such as that which I am going through this week. In Luke 12, Jesus is basically telling us, "Hey, look a those birds over there, see how you heavenly Father feeds them?" "Why are you worrying, is that going to change your situation?" No better advice has ever been given.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasure 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 - 20 NKJV
Honestly, as I pondered packing a evacuation bag the other day, I never once considered what drove me to carry the items I did. Clothing, personal care items, certain books, everything had some purpose in my life. Granted, most everything can be replaced at some point, but who ever wants to lose it all? I'm going to add a question to ask people of whom I'm curious about over their belief in Jesus. What's in your bag? What treasures do you hold so near and dear to your heart that you carry them with you? Pornography? Alcohol? Drugs? The approval of others? Pride? What is it that you're carrying that rivals the Lord Jesus? Ironically, Jesus asked this very same question in His sermon on the mount...with a very sobering reality. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"{Matthew 6:20}. It's true that whatever worries, concerns or behaviors we choose to carry with us will occupy our hearts as well. When I dabbled in pornography, there were many times when Jesus took a back seat to my addiction. Where my treasure was there my heart was also. So, I ask you, what's in your bag? What is it that you carry with you that you feel that Christ Jesus cannot replace in your life? What worries do you have that you feel Jesus can never take care of? These are legitimate questions because, honestly, when we accept Jesus into our hearts we take on all which He is. When we come to our own "Christ in me" moment of realization, we suddenly realize that all of those treasures we held so dear to us can and will be replaced by Jesus Himself. My own moment came literally at the door of a strip club. I was suddenly overcome by the realization that the treasure I valued no longer defined who I was. Jesus provided for that. Whatever it is that you are carrying with you, Jesus is more than capable of replacing it with a knowing and life in Him.
~Scott~
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