Casting Off Millstones

..."In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end."
[Heb 1:10-12 edited]

Modern technological advances occur at an alarming, mind-staggering rate. Almost too rapid for my mind to process. Trying to keep up with product is overwhelming.

Reality check. How attached am I to the world? To stuff?

Important questions to ask periodically to keep on track with my '09 focus.

To intentionally make Jesus greater takes balance. (Or should I say imbalance?) Imbalance in dominant attitude and imbalance according to the world's standards.

Let's look today at the transference from temporal to eternal. A shift from materialism, the perishable, to value what matters to God, the imperishable.

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
[1 Jn 2:16-17]

Jesus, crowned in glory, did not live His life to Himself or to gain anything from this world. He remained detached and focused on God's will.

He didn't give His heart away to temporary objects. He didn't get distracted by the material things that had no relevance.

His time was of the essence. He was on a mission. He determined to maximize His efforts and not get detracted by lesser things. Intangibles. Inconsequentials. He was concerned with only those things that came from the Father. Temporal things in this world desired of the flesh were not of the Father.

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
[Mt 16:26]

This verse really puts things in perspective. What do you value most and how does it measure up to what is truly more important?

Speaking for myself personally, a tremendous self-imposed burden is lifted when I cast off the "have-not" millstone. We become so encumbered trying to maintain the "must-have" mentality of consumerism.

It's so easy to get caught-up ~ even lost ~ in the pursuit of status. Or to be so sold by every persuasive ad that wants you to believe in power, possessions, or persona.

Desires can drive you into a dizzying chase after fleeting, demanding, and ever-changing things that have a tendency to rot away our hearts and dull our spiritual senses.

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
for he will get nothing in return.
[Jb 15:31]

When I realized Christ completely satisfied every desire and provides for every need my life was forever changed. And my faith.

To actually experience a real longing quenched ~ and not superficially, to only leave an emptiness or want for more ~ was a new phenomenon. Not only do I have peace but a certain calm. A calm that flows from the ease of worry. I don't worry about how to obtain the unnecessary. Anxiety replaced with trust in the Faithful One. The Faithful One that makes the eternal desirable and attainable. Having learned that only They are the true source of contentment and satisfaction.

One continuing work is exchanging the heavy sin of envy for thanksgiving. This transference from temporal to eternal is helpful in that endeavor for those things that often taunt this beast are those things that rust and decay or are completely intangible. His deliverance and victory in this sin is so liberating and rewarding. This is definitely one sin that I do hope to be completely rid of some day.

Daily it is my prayer to have an undivided heart. To have a heart fixed on Him. For my wants to be His wants. How discerning we must be not to be deceived by or attached to this duplicitous world. To escape the clever marketing mongers. To out-battle the desires of my flesh and the temptations of my heart and spiritual foe.

It is necessary to develop the habit of asking of each choice; "Is it eternal or temporal?" Does it have lasting significance or offer only fleeting pleasure?

Choosing what pleases Him and keeping Him in the thought process indeed makes Him greater. Just as it should be.

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
[Heb 1:8]

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. I place my whole heart before You to be filled with what You desire for me. May His everlasting kingdom reign in my heart. I acknowledge that only the eternal has unchanging, unspeakable value. Help me to cast off the millstone of wanting those things that will only waste away and draw me further from You. In Christ, Amen.

2009 Continuing Series ~

Transference
Based on John 3:30: "Jesus must increase, I must decrease"



Photo compliments of
Tim Rogers